Sweet Perogies

Both the varenyky and pehaii (sweet perogies) are commonly served at Ukrainian and other prairie weddings and banquets. My mom used to love cranberry pehaii when she was little. Often times ladies of the community would get together and spend all day making enough of these foods for a wedding. That’s what happened for her wedding 40 years ago.

Ingredients

You can either use a portion of traditional perogie dough or you can make a sweeter one. If you are using traditional dough prepare the dough the same as Granny's or Olga's perogie recipe and cut round circles.

For a sweeter dough my mom's is recipe:

1 egg

1 cup whipping cream

1 tsp baking powerder

1. tsp salt

1 1/2 cup flour

For the sweet dough, beat eggs, add cream and salt. Add 1 ½ cup flour and the baking powder and beat well. Add more flour if needed. Fill with your preferred filling (cranberries, apples, blueberries, etc.).Boil the perogies until they float to the top of the pot. If desired then fry in butter for a few minutes and top with whipped cream, cream, chocolate sauce or icing sugar depending on your filling and your preference.

Filling options:

Cranberries, apples, blueberries, poppy seed etc. to your personal taste. I had cherry in Slovakia which was amazing and another one with plums that tasted like Christmas.

For apple perogies you will need:

2 cups shredded apples

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Combine in a pot and cook over medium heat until thickened. You can use peaches, pears, etc. instead of apples.

For plum or berry filling:

3 cups of fruit

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup flour

Combine fruit and sugar and cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle with flour to thicken.