How to make legendary Leningrad ‘pyshki’, aka doughnuts (RECIPE)

Yulia Mulino

Jan 18 2023

How to make legendary Leningrad ‘pyshki’, aka doughnuts (RECIPE) — Yulia Mulino

In the U.S. doughnuts are often made with colored frosting on top. In St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, a unique local version of doughnuts is made – sprinkled with powdered sugar and known as “pyshki”.

Pyshki are ring-shaped pieces of dough that are fried in hot oil. Then, these soft rings that acquire a golden crispy crust are sprinkled with powdered sugar. What could be more tempting and refreshing during cold weather?!

In St. Petersburg (former Leningrad), pyshki have become one of the city’s gastronomical symbols. No wonder that there are many places where you can buy them; but there is one place in particular that stands out from the rest. It’s the famous "Pyshechnaya" (a cafe that specializes in pyshki) on Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street, where they have been baking pyshki since 1958.

After all these years, it’s still open and gathers long lines of visitors every day. In fact, it’s one of the few public eateries from the Soviet era that has survived until today. It's a favorite spot for students, urban hikers and city guests. The pyshki are inexpensive (about $0.30 for each) and authentic. Lovers of this delightful pastry usually take and devour 3-4 pyshki in one sitting.

The St. Petersburg pyshki are made on Soviet-era machines according to traditional recipes. You can eat them at a table with coffee or tea inside the cafe, or take them to go in a paper bag and enjoy them in the park.

And now, here’s the really great news. You don't have to go to St. Petersburg to experience this extraordinary Soviet-era doughnut. To make them you need some simple ingredients that can easily be found at home. You can prepare your own delicious pyshki, hot and soft inside with a crispy crust outside. By making them at home, three main advantages are that you won’t have to buy a plane ticket to Russia and you won’t have to stand in line, and perhaps most importantly, you can determine the amount of powdered sugar yourself!

Ingredients to make 15 “pyshki”:

Flour - 230 g
Water - 150 ml
Butter - 15 g
Sugar - 20 g
Salt - a pinch
Dried yeast - 2 g
Vegetable oil for frying
Powdered sugar to taste

Preparation:

1. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water.

2. Add melted butter.

3. Pour in flour and salt.

4. Knead the dough. It is better to do it in a mixer, because the dough will turn out liquid and sticky to your hands. This is how it should be. Additional flour is not required to make the dough pieces light and airy. If you are kneading by hand, it is better to do it with a silicone scraper or spatula.

5. Grease a deep bowl with vegetable oil and put the dough into it. Cover with cling film and let it rise for an hour.

6. Intensively knead the dough.

7. Let it sit for another hour.

8. While working with the dough, grease your hands with vegetable oil. Do not use flour because it will burn in the oil when frying. Divide it into small balls. I make them 30 g each. Put them on a greased surface and leave to rise for 15-20 minutes.

9. Heat the sunflower oil in a deep saucepan (you can check by using a wooden skewer; if there are bubbles, then the oil is ready). Use your thumb and middle finger to make a hole in the middle of the doughnut.