Russian Cake with Cottage Cheese and Cocoa

The dough for this delicious cake is easily prepared and is the perfect base to hold the rich filling. Start by melting the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has completely melted, let it cool slightly so it doesn't cook the egg you are about to add. In a separate bowl, add the sugar and vanilla essence over the cooled butter, mixing well until the mixture becomes homogeneous. Then, incorporate the cocoa powder, ensuring there are no lumps, to achieve a uniform dough.

After obtaining a homogeneous mixture, add the egg and continue mixing. The next step is to sift the flour together with the baking powder, gradually adding the mixture to the butter and cocoa composition. Knead the dough until it becomes elastic and no longer sticks to your hands; if necessary, do not hesitate to add 1-2 tablespoons of extra flour. Once the dough has been obtained, wrap about a third of it in cling film and place it in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. While waiting, roll out the remaining dough into a thin sheet, using the pressure of your palms to evenly place it in the 20x20 cm tray that you have lined with baking paper.

For the filling, wash the raisins and let them drain well. Melt the butter again and let it cool. Separately, crack the eggs and separate the egg whites from the yolks; place the egg whites in the fridge to use later. Whisk the yolks with a wooden spoon and set them aside. In another bowl, mash the cottage cheese, adding the sugar and vanilla essence, mixing well. Incorporate the yolks, melted butter, raisins, and cornstarch, stirring constantly to achieve a homogeneous composition.

Now, take the egg whites from the fridge and beat them well with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the cheese mixture using a spatula and mixing by folding to keep the air in the mixture. Pour the obtained filling over the base in the tray and level it evenly. On top, grate the dough from the freezer on a large grater to create a crispy crust. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake the cake for about 30 minutes, or until it turns golden and baked. Once ready, remove it from the tray and let it cool on a rack. Slice and enjoy this delicious cake with your loved ones!

 Ingredients: Dough - 100 g butter - 1/3 cup sugar - 1 vial vanilla essence - 1 tablespoon cocoa powder - 1 egg - approx. 1 1/2 cups flour - 1 teaspoon baking powder Filling - 1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruits/nuts, hazelnuts or grated lemon peel etc. - 30 g butter - 3 eggs - 500 g cottage cheese - 2/3 cup sugar - 1 vial vanilla essence - 1 teaspoon starch - 1 pinch of salt * cup with a capacity of 250 ml

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