Baked Apricots with Cinnamon: A Sweet Summer Base with Many Variations

Ingredients

For the baked apricots:

• 300–400 g fresh apricots
• a pat of butter to grease the pan + a few slices on top
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1–2 tablespoons of cane sugar, depending on the sweetness of the apricots
• optional: orange zest and a little orange juice

Whipped cottage cheese:

• 1 package of smooth, low-fat cottage cheese / approx. 250 g
• 1–2 tablespoons of milk or cream
• a drop of vanilla extract
• honey or sugar to taste

Option 1: Sourdough toast with whipped cottage cheese, apricots, and almonds

• You will need
• sourdough bread
• whipped cottage cheese
• a teaspoon of jam
• a few roasted apricots
• chopped almonds

Option 2: A Sweet Glass of Yogurt with Apricots and Granola

• whipped cottage cheese
• 1–2 teaspoons of jam
• a few roasted apricots
• homemade granola
• chopped pistachios

Method

1. Wash the apricots, cut them in half, and remove the pits. Place them in a buttered baking dish, and sprinkle with cinnamon and cane sugar. You can also add a little orange zest and a few drops of orange juice, if desired.
2. Top with a few thin slices of butter and bake in an oven preheated to180 °C for about 20 minutes, until the apricots are tender, lightly browned, and have released their juice.
3. Put the cottage cheese in a bowl, add milk or cream and vanilla, and sweeten to taste. Whisk everything together with a hand mixer or a whisk until it forms a smooth, fluffy cream.
4. If you combine the cottage cheese with jam or sweeter apricots, there's no need to add too much sugar.
5. Toast the sourdough bread until golden brown. Spread whipped cottage cheese on top, add a teaspoon of jam and a few roasted apricots, and sprinkle with chopped almonds. It’s best to serve it right away, while the toast is still slightly crispy. Layer whipped cottage cheese, jam, roasted apricots, and granola in a glass. Top with chopped pistachios.
6. You can serve this in a glass as a quick breakfast, a sweet snack, or a light dessert. It tastes great chilled, but it’s best to add the granola just before serving so it stays crunchy.