Summer Redcurrant Crumble Pastries with Quark Dough

Introduction

These fruity pastries are a wonderful summer treat for children from three years of age. The soft quark and oil dough is easy to chew, while the tart redcurrants offer an exciting new flavor experience. Baking together also supports fine motor skills when little hands help knead the crumble topping.

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 150 g spelt flour
• 75 g low-fat quark
• 3 tbsp neutral vegetable oil (such as canola oil)
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar

For the topping:

• 100 g fresh redcurrants

For the crumble:

• 50 g spelt flour
• 25 g cold butter
• 1 tbsp fine raw cane sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius using standard top and bottom heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. For the dough, combine the spelt flour, baking powder, quark, oil, milk, and vanilla sugar in a bowl. Knead everything swiftly until a smooth dough forms.
3. Divide the dough into four to six equal pieces. Shape them into round pastries and place them on the baking sheet.
4. Wash the redcurrants, carefully strip them from the stems, and distribute them over the dough. Press the berries down gently.
5. For the crumble, rub the flour, cold butter, and sugar between your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the berries.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Let them cool completely and check the temperature before serving.

Variations & Tips

• Instead of redcurrants, blueberries, raspberries, or small apple pieces work wonderfully for this recipe.
• The pastries keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. They also freeze beautifully and can be thawed individually as needed.
• For younger siblings, you can gently mash the berries beforehand to make chewing even easier.
• Adults can dust the pastries with a little powdered sugar after baking or enjoy them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Allergy & Safety Information

• This recipe contains gluten from the spelt flour and dairy from the quark, butter, and milk. Always introduce new ingredients one at a time and in small amounts.
• Small, round berries can be challenging for very young children. By age three, chewing is typically well practiced.
• If you have concerns about nutrition or potential allergies, please consult your pediatrician.

Nutritional Information

Redcurrants are rich in vitamin C, which supports iron absorption from plant-based sources in the body. Spelt flour provides valuable fiber for good digestion. The quark adds a portion of calcium, which is important for bone growth at this age.