Cloud-Soft Kefir Dough for Hand Pies
Airy, soft, and made from inexpensive ingredients. Cloud-soft kefir dough for hand pies is perfect for baking in the oven. It is made from simple products that can be found in almost every home. You can use either a sweet or a savory filling, depending on your taste.
Updated : 24 June, 2026
Easy
About 1 hour.
Ingredients
480 grams
Wheat flour
250 grams
Kefir
125 grams
Vegetable oil
10 grams
Dry yeast
1 tablespoon
Sugar
1 teaspoon
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How do you knead cloud-soft kefir dough for hand pies? Prepare all the necessary ingredients. Sift half of the prepared flour into a deep, clean, dry bowl, add the yeast, and mix well. I recommend using only half of the flour at first and then adding the rest in portions, because flour varies from one producer to another in gluten content, and you may need a little less or a little more. So we will determine the exact amount during the kneading process.
Step 2
Warm the kefir to 30–35°C (86–95°F). You can do this on the stove or in the microwave, just do not overheat it so it does not curdle. Pour the kefir into a small deep container. Then add the refined vegetable oil, sugar, and salt, and mix everything well until the sugar and salt dissolve.
Step 3
Pour the kefir mixture into the flour mixture.
Step 4
Start mixing with a silicone spatula or a spoon. The dough will gradually begin to thicken. Then add the remaining flour in portions, sifting it as well.
Step 5
Transfer the dough, which has come together into a ball but should still be fairly sticky, onto a floured work surface. I used a silicone mat, which is very convenient for any dough handling. Continue kneading.
Step 6
What consistency should the dough have? As soon as the dough stops sticking to your hands, it is ready, and no more flour should be added. It is possible that you will have some flour left over. Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes. It should become soft, elastic, and easy to work with. Shape it into a ball. I weighed the dough, and it came to 800 g (about 28 oz).
Step 7
Transfer the kefir dough with dry yeast into a deep bowl and cover it tightly on top with plastic wrap. Leave the dough in a warm place without drafts for 30–60 minutes. Punch down the risen light dough for hand pies, divide it into equal parts, and you can start making the pastries. From this amount of dough, I got 12 pieces weighing 60–70 g each (about 2.1–2.5 oz), which makes 12 medium-sized hand pies. Enjoy cooking!
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