Mannik Recipe

Mannik (манник, pronounced MAHN-nik), a Russian semolina cake, is one of my favorite childhood treats and also a favorite of Anya and Justin. I'll write up my basic recipe first, and offer a few additional ideas to make this simple (yet tasty!) cake even more interesting.

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs

3/4 cup of sugar

1 cup of semolina or farina

1 cup of yogurt*

100 g of butter (less then 1 stick)

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

a pinch of salt

a couple of drops of vanilla if you wish

*I love using Greek honey yogurt, but you can also use plain, vanilla or fruit yogurt, as well as sour cream or kefir - or a combination of those.

PREPARATION

1. Mix eggs with salt, add yogurt, mix well.

2. Add semolina to the mix and let sit for about 30 min.

3. Add sugar, baking soda, baking powder and mix with care.

4. Preheat oven (I use our toaster oven) to 375 F (190 C). 

While the oven is preheating, place butter in the baking dish which you're going to use and

melt it in the toaster oven.

5. Add melted butter to the batter and mix well again. 

6. Pour the batter into your baking dish (9'' round dish is enough for the given amount), 

place it in the oven and lower the temperature to 350 F.

7. Bake at 350 F for about 35 minutes (the actual time depends on your oven, this time is based on using a convection toaster oven).

When your mannik is done, take it out of the oven, cover with a clean tea towel and let it rest. You can carefully take it out of the baking dish once it's cooled off, or simply slice it right in the dish and serve by slice. It's great on its own, but you can have it with jam, syrup, honey, condensed milk, fresh berries, whipped cream... only your imagination is the limit!

OPTIONAL

For variety, I add all sorts of tasty things to my basic recipe:

- raisins

- frozen cranberries

- roasted walnuts

- poppy seeds

- cinnamon and nutmeg

If you choose to do add any of these (or a combination of 2 or 3), add them after the 3rd step of the recipe above.

Looking for a recipe of home-made borscht? I have it HERE!

Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита! :)

Click here to read: my BORSCHT and BLINI recipes!

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