Fluffy Kefir Buns with Apple Filling
A simple recipe for wonderfully fluffy buns to serve with tea! Made from soft kefir yeast dough and filled with cinnamon-scented apples, these cloud-like buns will turn out beautifully even for inexperienced bakers.
Updated : 31 August, 2026
Easy
More than 1 hour.
Ingredients
Dough
460 grams
Wheat flour
250 milliliters
Kefir
7 grams
Dry yeast
100 grams
Sugar
to taste
Vanillin
to taste
Salt
1
Eggs
50 grams
Butter
20 milliliters
Vegetable oil
1
Egg yolks
Filling
600 grams
Apple
30 grams
Sugar
to taste
Cinnamon
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Add the yeast to the warm kefir, stir and set aside for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Place some of the flour in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, vanilla powder and salt. Mix, then make a well in the center.
Step 3
Pour in the melted but not hot butter and the vegetable oil. Add the egg and pour in the kefir mixture, in which the yeast should now be active.
Step 4
Begin kneading the dough, gradually adding more flour as needed. The dough should remain very soft, slightly loose and sticky rather than firm. Grease your hands with vegetable oil to make the dough easier to handle. Knead it in the bowl for about 5 minutes, then transfer it to the work surface and knead for another 10 minutes, repeatedly lifting and gently slapping it against the surface. The dough will become elastic but should still remain slightly sticky.
Step 5
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise for 1½ hours.
Step 6
If using cinnamon sticks, grind them finely in a blender or spice grinder.
Step 7
Peel the apples and cut them into small cubes.
Step 8
Place the apples in a preheated frying pan. Add the sugar and cinnamon and cook gently for a couple of minutes, until the apples soften slightly. Leave the filling to cool.
Step 9
Divide the risen dough into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rest for 10 minutes.
Step 10
Flatten each piece of dough into a small round. Place some apple filling in the center, bring the edges together and pinch them closed. Place the shaped buns seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat. For neater buns, arrange them in a baking dish or a 11-inch pastry ring so they retain their shape.
Step 11
Cover the buns with a towel and leave them to rise for 20–30 minutes. Mix the egg yolk with a little water or milk and brush it over the buns.
Step 12
Bake in an oven preheated to 350°F for about 30 minutes, until the buns are golden and cooked through.
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