Quark pancakes in the air fryer are my shortcut to Ukrainian syrnyky: thick little pancakes made from quark, egg, a little sugar and only as much flour as it takes to shape the dough. Traditionally they are fried in a pan, but in the air fryer they get a golden surface and a soft, creamy centre, without you having to stand there minding a pan.
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The pancakes are turned in flour, brushed with melted butter and baked at 180 °C. The whole dish takes 32 minutes, of which 12 minutes are baking time in the air fryer. Serve them warm with crème fraîche and jam for breakfast or brunch, and remember the most important thing before you get started: the quark has to be squeezed until it is dry and crumbly.
Table of Contents
Why I love quark pancakes in the air fryer
Syrnyky are a classic breakfast in Ukraine, and I can see why. The dough is mixed together in one bowl, it does not need to rise, and the flavour sits somewhere between a pancake and a warm cheesecake. On the outside the pancakes are golden from the flour and butter, and inside they are soft and fresh from the quark. The dough is only lightly sweetened, so the jam is left to provide the sweetness.
It all comes down to the cheese. The original is made with syr, the dry, grainy fresh cheese that gave the pancakes their name. In Eastern European shops it is often sold as tvorog or twaróg, and in Denmark well-drained quark is the easiest substitute.
The difference between the air fryer and the pan
In a pan, syrnyky need watching the whole time, because they quickly turn dark on the outside before the centre has set. In the air fryer the pancakes lie in a single layer on baking paper, the hot air keeps the temperature steady for you, and you only have to open the basket once to turn them over and brush them. The butter is brushed on instead of sitting in the pan, so you avoid the frying fumes in your kitchen.
My kitchen test of quark pancakes
I tested the quark pancakes in my Cosori Dual Blaze at 180 °C. It has heating elements both at the top and at the bottom of the same basket, which gives an even, golden colour on both sides. The pancakes still need to be turned after 6 minutes, so the new top side can be brushed with the rest of the butter, and then they get 6 more minutes. After a total of 12 minutes they are golden and feel firm when I press them lightly.
I made my first batch with quark straight from the tub, and it went wrong: the dough was sticky and the pancakes spread out. The second time I wrung the quark hard in a tea towel until it crumbled, and then the dough could be shaped into pancakes about 5 cm in diameter and 2 cm high, which held their shape. In a large basket like the one in the Philips XXL there is plenty of room, but in a smaller air fryer you bake the 12 pancakes in two batches. Let them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving, so they have time to set.
Wring the quark in a clean tea towel until no more liquid comes out. Dry, crumbly quark is the difference between thick syrnyky and pancakes that spread out on the baking paper.
Tips and tricks from the author: Morten Jensen
The typical mistakes and how to avoid them
The first mistake is wet quark. Squeeze it thoroughly, or let it drain in a cloth-lined sieve in the fridge overnight, so that it only needs a light squeeze. The second mistake is rescuing a sticky dough with too much flour, because then the pancakes turn dense and floury instead of creamy. Stir only until the dough has just come together, add no more than 1 tbsp of flour at a time, and chill the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes if it is still too soft to shape. The third mistake is skimping on the butter. Flour without fat turns white and dry instead of golden, so the whole floured surface has to be brushed, both before baking and after turning.
How to serve quark pancakes
Quark pancakes should be served warm, and they are best with something tangy and something sweet on the side. Here are my favourites:
- Crème fraîche, which is the closest you will get to Ukrainian smetana
- Jam made from raspberries, strawberries or blackcurrants
- Fresh berries and a dusting of icing sugar
- Honey, if you want a softer sweetness
Storage and reheating
The quark pancakes can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 160 °C for 3-4 minutes, until they are heated through. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight, and warm them in the air fryer before you serve them.
Quark pancakes in the air fryer are an easy route to Ukrainian syrnyky on the breakfast table, even on an ordinary weekday. Squeeze the quark dry, be sparing with the flour and generous with the butter, and they will turn out right. You will find the full recipe with all the measurements at the bottom of the page.
FAQ
Syrnyky are Ukrainian quark pancakes: thick little pancakes made from dry fresh cheese, egg, a little sugar and flour, traditionally fried in a pan. They are flat pancakes and not deep-fried like papanași or Quarkbällchen.
It is almost always because the quark is too wet. Wring it hard in a clean tea towel until it is dry and crumbly, and chill the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes if it is still too soft to shape.
Yes. Let the cottage cheese drain, squeeze it in a cloth, and mash or blend it until smooth before you stir the dough. Tvorog or twaróg from an Eastern European shop can also be used and usually does not need to be squeezed.
Recipe
Quark pancakes in the Air Fryer
Cooking Guide
Keep the screen on and follow the recipe step by step while you cook.
Step 1:
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Step 2:
Start the guide and follow the recipe one step at a time.
Cost of the dish
Prices may vary depending on where you shop.
Our estimate is based on average food prices for the current year 2026.
Estimated price for the whole dish:
Airfryer size
All our recipes are tested in a Philips Airfryer 2000 Series NA230/00 – 6.2 L
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Recommended equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Kitchen towel
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Mixing spoon
- 1 Plate
- 1 Small pot
- 1 Brush
- 1 Parchment paper (for air fryer)
- 1 Offset spatula
Shopping list
Ingredients
How to make it
Preparation
- Place 500 g quark in the middle of a clean tea towel. Gather the cloth into a tight bundle and wring it hard over the sink until no more liquid comes out. The quark should be dry and crumbly, otherwise the pancakes will spread out in the air fryer.
- Put the squeezed quark in a mixing bowl and stir it until there are no lumps. Add 1 pcs egg, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla sugar and 1 pinch salt, and mix well.
- Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll them into balls with floured hands.
Cooking in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C fan.
- Melt 25 g butter in a small saucepan over a low heat.
- Line the air fryer basket with baking paper and arrange the pancakes in a single layer with a little space between them. Bake in two batches if there is not room for all 12.
- Brush the top of the pancakes with half of the melted butter, so that the whole floured surface is covered.
- Bake the pancakes at 180 °C for 6 minutes.
- Carefully turn the pancakes over with a palette knife and brush the new top side with the rest of the butter.
- Continue baking at 180 °C for 6 minutes, until the pancakes are golden and feel firm when you press them lightly.
Serving
- Let the pancakes rest for 2-3 minutes so they can set. Serve them warm with 2 dl crème fraîche and 4 tbsp jam.
Our notes for the recipe
The quark should be so dry that it crumbles. It is the dry cheese that keeps the pancakes thick, while wet quark makes them spread out. If you have time, you can let the quark drain in a cloth-lined sieve in the fridge overnight, so it only needs a light squeeze. If the dough is still too soft to shape, chill it in the fridge for 20 minutes. Brush the whole surface with butter, because flour without fat turns white and dry instead of golden. Tvorog, quark or cottage cheese:
Syrnyky get their name from syr, the Ukrainian word for the dry, grainy fresh cheese the pancakes are made from. Traditionally they are fried in a pan. In Eastern European shops the cheese is often sold as tvorog or twaróg, and it usually does not need to be squeezed. Quark is the easiest substitute. You can also use cottage cheese: let it drain, squeeze it in the cloth, and mash or blend it until smooth. Variation:
Stir a small handful of raisins or a little finely grated lemon zest into the dough. You can brush with a neutral oil instead of butter, but butter gives the most flavour and colour. Serving:
Serve the quark pancakes warm. Crème fraîche is the closest you will get to smetana, and jam made from raspberries, strawberries or blackcurrants goes well with them. Fresh berries, honey or a dusting of icing sugar are also good choices. Serving size:
The recipe makes 12 small pancakes, 3 per serving. If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches.
Your notes for the recipe
Nutrition per serving (Guideline)
Important about shelf life and nutrition
Nutrition per serving (guideline): Calculations are based on data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Shelf life (guideline): Shelf life data is provided, as far as possible, by public institutions, including national food authorities. Our information is therefore only indicative, and it is your responsibility to obtain and calculate accurate information about shelf life and nutrition for all recipes on airfryerkogebogen.dk
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