Oladi (The BEST Russian Pancakes With Apple) - Lavender & Macarons (2024)

People can't get enough of fluffy interior and crispy edges of these "Oladi" pancakes. Cozy, sweet and so delicious, these homemade Ukrainian/Russian pancakes are a staple on a weekend breakfast menu. The recipe is so easy to make and it will sure become a family's favorite.
Also, try my Ukrainian Cottage Cheese Pancakes and Cassava Pancakes.

It just doesn't get any better than waking up on a Sunday morning to a sweet aroma of crispy apple Oladi sizzling in a pan.

That's my idea of the cozy weekend breakfast - simple, delicious and preferably hassle-free.

Because unlike the busy weekdays, when we hardly even have time for breakfast, on weekend you finally get to eat your breakfast slowly and you definitely want it to be a good one.

That's where Oladi come in - traditional Russian pancakes made with kefir or buttermilk and with the addition of apple.

Oladi have quite a unique taste and texture. They are pillowy soft, sweet and so delicious.

Unlike most American pancakes, these Oladi are fried in oil. That's what gives them the luscious crispy edges that everyone loves.

Just like in Russia, Oladi are so popular in Ukraine too and I grew up eating ton of those. This is the kind of food that pleases everyone and disappears fast.

Because when you sit at the breakfast table in front of a stack of freshly made Kefir Russian Pancakes, you can't help but dig right into them.

Oladi are delicious and make you feel cozy and and satisfied.

Sometimes you'll these Russian pancakes under different names. Some call them blini, some - oladushki or oladki. Many people even make yeast based Oladi.

However one fact is for sure, whatever you call them, these thick pancakes are sure to impress.

👩🏻‍🍳 Here Is Why This Oladyi Recipe Works

• Oladi are fluffy, soft and crispy on the edges - and who doesn't like that?
• oladyi can be stuffed with a variety of different fruits or berries; just use whatever you have in your fridge
• oladi that are made with kefir or buttermilk are healthy and quick to make
• approved by picky eaters and it's always a plus

The process of making Oladi is quite similar to making regula pancakes and is easy as a pie.

I'm going to walk you through all steps to ensure you prepare the best Oladi ever.

Ingredients

Here's an overview of the specific ingredients for this recipe. For the exact ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.

I love that these Oladi are made with simple ingredients. You probably already have them in your pantry.

• Kefir - highly popular dairy-based beverage in Eastern European countries. You can find Kefir in most grocery stores. Otherwise, see my substitution tips below
• Egg - for binding the ingredients
• Flour - I've always made Oladi with all-purpose flour, however Whole Wheat Pastry Flour will work here as well. If you want to use Whole Wheat Flour, I recommend 1:1 ratio meaning 1 part of Whole Wheat Flour and 1 part of All purpose flour.
• Baking soda - to help the batter rise
• Apples - crispy and not too sweet types of apples work best. Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji, Daisy variety will all work well in this Oladi recipe
• Sugar - Oladi are usually made with a regular cane sugar. However you can use brown sugar or coconut sugar. Keep in mind though, that if you use darker sugar varieties, these Russian pancakes will be darker in color.
• Neutral Oil - for cooking. I recommend to use avocado oil or coconut oil without a smell

🔪 Instructions

1. Make a batter for Oladi

In a small bowl combine Kefir and water and microwave for 30 seconds.In another large mixing bowl combine together egg, salt and sugar. Add warmed kefir and mix everything until combined.

2. Add flour.

Gradually start adding 2 cups of flour mixing the batter with a hand whisk until it's smooth and without lumps. The batter should resemble a dense sour cream. If it's too thin, add a few more tablespoons of flour, one at a time.

3. Add in baking soda and mix everything once again.
4. Add apple. Meanwhile, peel, core and dice apples. Add them to a bowl with Oladi batter and mix everything nicely.

5. Fry the Oladi pancakes

Melt 2 tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Drop about a heaping tablespoon of batter in a skillet and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden-brown on the bottom.

Flip a pancake with a spatula and fry for another minute. Cook Oladi in batches. You can cook 5-6 Russian pancakes at a time. Make sure the skillet has enough oil for Oladi not to stick.

Transfer fried pancakes on a plate, add more oil if needed and continue frying the remaining batter.

💭 Frequently Asked Questions

🥞 Serving suggestions

You can serve Russian Oladi with any sweet condiments that you have in your fridge. Here are some of my favorite topping ideas:

• sour cream
• honey
• maple syrup
• cherry spread or jam (varenye)
• fresh berries like blueberries, blackberries or raspberries

Just like Russian Cottage Cheese Pancakes, Oladi can be served for breakfast, dessert or even dinner. They are delicious, healthy and filling.

📖 Recipe Substituitions

Oftentimes, Oladi are made with Kefir, which is a fermented milk drink. It gives pancakes a fluffier texture.

Kefir is available in practically any grocery store. But if you can't find it, here are some other alternatives to use in place of Kefir:

• Greek yogurt with milk - stick to 3:1 ratio. For example, if you need 1 cup of Kefir, mix ¾ cup of whole fat yogurt with ¼ cup of milk;
• Buttermilk - use 1 part of Buttermilk for 1 part of Kefir.

In addition, when you fry Oladi, feel free to add some chocolate chips on top. Hu Chocolate Gems are the only chocolate chips that I recommend, because they're made with clean and healthy ingredients. You can even snack on them.

Special offer to my readers - use code IRYNA15 to get 15% on all Hu Kitchen products.

🥯 Similar Recipes

If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below and rate it. I always appreciate the feedback. Also, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

For a quick overview of the recipe, please check out Oladi web-story.

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