A Simple Verguny Recipe To Make Delicious Fried Cookies!
If you are looking for a tasty fried treat that is easy to make, verguny are the way to go! These angel wing cookies are made with a simple dough that is folded, fried, and dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
Verguny – also sometimes spelled verhuny – are also known as “sweet brushwood” cookies. This is because when you make a big batch and dust them in powdered sugar, they resemble a pile of wood on the plate!
Verguny – or similar angel wing cookies – are popular in many countries, such as Russia, Italy, Poland, Hungary, and others. They have different names and variations depending on the region.
For example, in Italy they are often called chiacchiere, in Poland they are called chrusciki, and in Hungary they are called csöröge.
These cookies are eaten throughout the year, but especially around Christmas, during Carnival in February, and at Easter.
Ingredients
Here are the verguny ingredients you will need to make these tasty cookies:
- Buttermilk – Unflavored buttermilk; adds tanginess and moisture to the dough.
- All-purpose flour – Regular all-purpose flour to make the dough.
- Brown sugar – Adds sweetness; use light brown sugar if possible.
- Baking soda – Acts as a leavening agent; make sure the baking soda hasn’t expired.
- Vegetable oil – Alternatively, you could use canola oil or sunflower oil. Some for the dough, more for frying.
- Egg – Helps bind the dough.
- Salt – Enhances the flavor and balances the sweetness.
- Powdered sugar – To dust the verguny after frying.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
Before you tackle this Ukrainian fried cookie recipe, have a read through these recipe tips and tricks so that you know what to expect!
- The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add the flour in small increments to get the right texture.
- Don’t forget to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before rolling it out. This makes it easier to work with.
- You can give the dough any shape you want and then fry it in oil. But the folded diamond version – the one known to resemble “Angel wings” – is very common.
- You can freeze the shaped cookies before frying them.
- The oil should have a temperature of about 350 degrees Fahrenheit when frying the veguny. If it’s too hot, you run the risk of the outside getting too dark before the inside is fully cooked.
- Don’t overcrowd the pot when frying the cookies.
How to Make Verguny – Step by Step Instructions
This section of the post is all about showing you exactly how to make verguny.
We have included all the recipe process photos so that you can follow along and see exactly what they should look like every step of the way.
You can find the detailed recipe card with exact measurements at the bottom of this post!
In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg.
Add the brown sugar, vegetable oil, baking soda, and salt, and stir well.
Gradually add the flour and knead the dough using the spiral dough hooks of your electric hand or stand mixer until the dough is soft and not sticky.
Cover the dough with cling film and refrigerate it for about 30 minutes.
Sprinkle your work surface with a bit of flour. Cut off a piece of dough and roll it out into a thin layer (about 1/8 inch thick).
Cut the dough into diamonds.
Make a slit in the center of each diamond and thread the top corner of the diamond through the slit. See the photo above for reference.
Repeat the steps until you have used all of the dough.
Heat enough oil in a pot to deep fry the cookies. When the oil reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit, drop the verguny into the hot vegetable oil and fry for 4-5 minutes or until golden.
Don’t overcrowd the pot, fry in batches.
Place the cookies on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Dust them with powdered sugar when they are cool. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
You can store the verguny in a container with a lid at room temperature for a few days.
However, keep in mind that if the room is humid, the dough may become soft and the powdered sugar may melt.
If you need to stack the verguny, you can place parchment paper or wax paper between the layers if you want.
Related Recipes
If you liked this recipe for verguny, here are some other sweet Slavic recipes that you may want to try out next!
- Sochniki (Sweet Cheese Cookies)
- Ponchiki (Cottage Cheese Donut Holes)
- Syrniki (Cheese Pancakes)
- Blini (Russian Crepes)
Verguny (Ukrainian Brushwood Cookies)
Ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg.1 cup buttermilk, 1 egg
- Add the brown sugar, vegetable oil, baking soda, and salt, and stir well.2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/3 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Gradually add the flour and knead with the spiral dough hooks of your electric hand or stand mixer until the dough is soft and not sticky.1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Cover the dough with cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle your work surface with a bit of flour. Cut off a piece of dough and roll it out into a thin layer (about 1/8 inch thick). Cut the dough into diamonds.
- Make a slit in the center of each diamond and thread the top corner of the diamond through the slit (see photos in step-by-step section above for reference). Repeat the steps until you have used all of the dough.
- Heat enough oil in a pot to deep fry the cookies. When the oil reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit, drop the verguny into the hot vegetable oil and fry for 4-5 minutes until golden. Don't overcrowd the pot, fry in batches.vegetable oil
- Place the cooked verguny on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil and dust them with powdered sugar when they are cool. Enjoy!3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Notes
- The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add the flour in small increments to get the right texture.
- Don’t forget to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before rolling it out. This makes it easier to work with.
- You can give the dough any shape you want and then fry it in oil. But the folded diamond version known to resemble “Angel wings” is very common.
- You can freeze the shaped cookies before frying them.
- The oil should be about 350 degrees Fahrenheit when you fry the veguny. If it’s too hot, you run the risk of the outside getting too dark before the inside is fully cooked.
- Don’t overcrowd the pot when frying the cookies.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
