I absolutely love this Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe because it feels like a little celebration every time I make it. The thin, delicate crepes paired with that tangy, creamy cheese filling create a balance of flavors and textures that always impresses family and friends. Whether it’s a lazy weekend brunch, a special breakfast, or a sweet comfort food craving, these blintzes never disappoint.
When I first tried making blintzes at home, I was a bit intimidated by the process, but this recipe changed everything for me. You’ll find that with simple ingredients and a few handy tips, you can whip up restaurant-quality Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe right in your own kitchen — no fancy equipment needed. Trust me, it’s so worth making from scratch!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make at home: The batter blends up in minutes, no complicated steps involved.
- Creamy, flavorful filling: The mix of cottage and cream cheese with a hint of lemon makes it uniquely delicious.
- Perfect for gatherings: These blintzes can be made ahead and baked just before serving.
- Versatile serving options: You can enjoy them sweet with berry sauce or even a little savory twist—great for any meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients work beautifully together to create tender crepes and a luscious filling that’s not overly sweet. Choosing good-quality dairy and fresh lemon zest really elevates the flavor.
- Fairlife fat-free milk: Creamy and smooth milk helps make the batter silky without heaviness.
- All-purpose flour: Gives structure to the crepes while keeping them tender.
- Cold water: Adjusts batter consistency for that perfect thin crepe texture.
- Large eggs: Important for binding and adding richness to the batter and filling.
- Vegetable oil: Keeps the batter from sticking and adds a slight moisture.
- Monk fruit sweetener: A great low-calorie alternative to sugar that sweetens just right.
- Kosher salt: Enhances flavors throughout both batter and filling.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth and a little warmth to the crepes.
- Cooking spray: For a nonstick surface without excess oil.
- Part-skim cottage cheese: I like brands that are well-drained to avoid a watery filling.
- Whipped cream cheese: Softens the filling and gives a creamy texture.
- Lemon: Fresh zest brightens and lifts the filling flavor beautifully.
- Powdered sugar: To dust on top, adding just the right touch of sweetness.
- Berry sauce (optional): Made from fresh or frozen berries – it adds a fruity, tangy counterpoint.
Variations
I love making this Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe my own by playing with the filling and toppings. Feel free to adjust sweetness or add your favorite flavors to make it truly yours!
- Savory filling: One time, I swapped the lemon zest for fresh herbs and added a little garlic powder—my family adored the savory twist.
- Gluten-free option: You can use gluten-free flour blends for the batter if you’re sensitive to gluten, just watch the texture and thinness.
- Vegan variation: I’ve experimented replacing dairy with vegan cream cheese and a plant milk blend, though the texture is a little different, it still tastes satisfying.
- Fruit-filled blintzes: Adding fresh berries inside the filling before rolling gives a lovely burst of flavor and looks gorgeous on the plate.
How to Make Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe
Step 1: Blend Your Crepe Batter to Perfection
Start by combining milk, flour, water, eggs, oil, monk fruit sweetener, salt, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend on medium speed until you get a smooth, thin batter—about 30 to 60 seconds. Be sure to scrape down the sides once or twice to mix in everything evenly. Let it rest for a few minutes so the flour hydrates; this helps you get tender, pliable crepes that won’t tear when you roll them.
Step 2: Mix the Creamy Cheese Filling
While the batter rests, whisk together well-drained cottage cheese, room-temperature whipped cream cheese, an egg, monk fruit sweetener, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. For a smoother filling, you can pulse this mixture in the blender. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to assemble the blintzes. The lemon zest really brightens the filling, and chilling helps it hold its shape during cooking.
Step 3: Cook the Crepes
Heat a nonstick 10-inch skillet over medium heat and spray lightly with cooking spray. Pour about ¼ cup of batter into the pan, then swirl it around immediately to cover the bottom in a thin layer. Cook until the surface looks dry and the edges lift easily, about 30 to 60 seconds, then carefully flip and cook the other side for 30 seconds. Stack cooked crepes on a plate to cool. This part always feels a little like art to me, but don’t worry if your first few aren’t perfect—they get better fast!
Step 4: Assemble and Roll Your Blintzes
Preheat your oven to 325°F and lightly spray a baking dish with oil. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the filling onto the crepe, about an inch from the edge closest to you. Fold that edge over, flatten gently, then fold in each side toward the center, and roll the crepe into a neat rectangle – this sealed seam will be the bottom. This folding technique helps keep the filling secure while cooking.
Step 5: Brown and Bake Your Blintzes
Heat a skillet sprayed with oil or butter over medium heat. Cook the blintzes, working in batches, turning gently until golden brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Transfer browned blintzes to the prepared baking dish, then bake for 10 to 12 minutes to firm up the filling. Let them cool about 5 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar and serving – that oven step makes the filling just right, not too runny!
Pro Tips for Making Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe
- Rest the batter: Letting the batter sit helps relax the gluten, resulting in more tender crepes that won’t crack when rolled.
- Drain the cottage cheese well: Excess moisture can make the filling too runny, so I always press mine through a sieve or cheesecloth.
- Use a nonstick pan and cooking spray: This keeps crepes from sticking and saves you from flipping disasters.
- Don’t overfill the crepes: Too much filling makes rolling tricky and blintzes prone to breaking during cooking.
How to Serve Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe
Garnishes
My go-to garnish is a light dusting of powdered sugar for that perfect hint of sweetness and a polished look. When I’m feeling fancy, a drizzle of homemade berry sauce adds beautiful color and a tangy contrast that everyone loves. Fresh mint or a spoonful of crème fraîche on the side also take the blintzes to the next level.
Side Dishes
I often serve these blintzes with a simple green salad to balance the richness or fresh fruit salad to add a refreshing lightness. For a brunch spread, crispy bacon or smoked salmon on the side complements the creamy blintzes delightfully. Classic coffee or tea pairs beautifully with this whole setup.
Creative Ways to Present
For holidays or special occasions, I like arranging blintzes on a platter with alternating dollops of fruit preserves and whipped cream between them – it’s a real crowd-pleaser. Cutting them in half and stacking with colorful berries in between also makes for an impressive layered dessert-style presentation. It’s simple but has that wow factor.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store leftover blintzes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They might lose a bit of that fresh crispness, but reheating them gently brings back their delicious charm. Just be sure to let them cool completely before refrigerating to avoid sogginess.
Freezing
Freezing is a lifesaver when I want to prepare ahead. I freeze blintzes individually on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. They freeze really well up to 2 months. When you’re ready, thaw them overnight in the fridge and reheat as directed. It’s a huge time saver for busy mornings!
Reheating
I gently reheat blintzes in a skillet with a touch of butter over medium-low heat to restore the golden exterior without drying them out. Alternatively, the oven works well—just cover loosely with foil and warm at 325°F for 8 to 10 minutes. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep that lovely texture intact.
FAQs
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Can I make the crepe batter ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can make the batter up to one day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Just give it a gentle stir before cooking to recombine any settled flour. The resting time helps improve texture, so prepping in advance actually benefits the final crepes.
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What if I don’t have monk fruit sweetener?
You can swap monk fruit sweetener for regular granulated sugar, honey, or maple syrup—adjusting the quantity slightly to taste. I prefer monk fruit for a lower sugar option, but the recipe works just as well with traditional sweeteners.
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How do I prevent blintzes from breaking while rolling?
Make sure your crepes are thin but flexible and warm when you fill and roll them. Don’t overfill, and fold gently yet firmly to hold the filling securely. If a crepe tears, just patch it with a little extra batter next time or roll more slowly—practice makes perfect!
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Can I substitute the cheese filling with ricotta?
Yes, ricotta cheese makes a lovely filling alternative. Choose well-drained ricotta to avoid watery filling. Mixing it with a bit of cream cheese and zest will keep the creamy texture and bright flavor consistent.
Final Thoughts
This Cheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe has become one of my kitchen go-tos for good reason—it’s approachable, delicious, and brings a touch of comfort and elegance all at once. I encourage you to try making these for yourself; I promise you’ll love the process as much as the outcome. Once you see how simple it is to create these tender crepes with luscious filling, you’ll want to make them over and over again, just like I do!
PrintCheese Blintz (Easy Homemade Blintzes) Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Jewish
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
This easy homemade Cheese Blintz recipe features delicate crepes filled with a creamy cottage cheese and cream cheese mixture, lightly sweetened and enhanced with lemon zest. The blintzes are pan-fried until golden and then baked to set the filling perfectly, making a delightful breakfast or dessert served with optional berry sauce.
Ingredients
Crepe Batter:
- 1 ¼ cups Fairlife fat-free milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons monk fruit sweetener (or sugar of your choice)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- cooking spray
Blintz Filling:
- 1 ½ cups part-skim cottage cheese (strained well)
- ½ cup whipped cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons monk fruit sweetener (or sugar of your choice)
- 1 medium lemon (zested)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (for topping)
- berry sauce (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Crepe Batter: Combine milk, flour, water, eggs, oil, monk fruit sweetener, salt, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend for 30 to 60 seconds until completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Set the batter aside to rest.
- Make Filling: In a mixing bowl, whisk together cottage cheese, cream cheese, egg, 2 tablespoons monk fruit sweetener (or sugar), lemon zest, and salt until thoroughly combined. For a smoother texture, you can blend this mixture. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
- Cook Crepes: Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Pour about ¼ to ⅓ cup crepe batter into the skillet and immediately swirl to coat the bottom evenly. Cook until the surface is dry and the bottom is set, about 30 to 60 seconds. Flip the crepe and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Transfer crepe to a plate. Repeat with remaining batter and stack the crepes.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Lightly spray a baking dish with oil to prepare for the blintzes.
- Fill and Fold Blintzes: Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the cheese filling onto each crepe, placing it about 1 inch from the edge nearest you. Fold that edge over the filling and flatten slightly, then fold in both sides and roll into a small rectangle with the seam on the bottom.
- Pan-Fry Blintzes: Spray a large skillet with oil or butter and heat over medium heat. Cook several blintzes at a time, turning gently, until golden brown on each side, about 1 minute per side. Transfer cooked blintzes to the prepared baking dish.
- Bake: Bake the blintzes in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes to firm up the filling.
- Serve: Let the blintzes cool about 5 minutes. Dust lightly with powdered sugar and serve warm, optionally with berry sauce.
Notes
- Make ahead tip: Refrigerate the rolled blintzes until ready to serve, then brown them in butter following the pan-frying step.
- Optional berry sauce: Simmer 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen mixed berries with lemon zest and ¼ cup monk fruit sweetener over low heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in 1 cup additional berries, remove from heat, and serve over blintzes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 blintz
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 80mg