Christmas Breakfast Fruit Spread – Strawberry, Almond & Cinnamon

Christmas Breakfast Fruit Spread. Half strawberry, a little almond, a touch of Ceylon cinnamon.

Christmas Breakfast Fruit Spread by FrüchteMeer is a strawberry spread made from 50% strawberries from Schleswig-Holstein, 2% almonds and Ceylon cinnamon. It is not a gingerbread spread, spiced jam or pure strawberry jam, but something in between.

Christmas Breakfast Fruit Spread is a strawberry fruit spread from the FrüchteMeer jam manufactory, combining the summer fruit with two ingredients from Christmas baking. If this name makes you think of gingerbread spice, you are mistaken. The ingredients list begins with strawberries, which make up exactly half the jar. Almonds follow at 2 percent, and Ceylon cinnamon is at the very end. This balance determines the taste: strawberry takes the lead, while the wintery notes merely accompany it. That is precisely the appeal for a breakfast table where not everyone likes spices.

Ripe strawberry at the forefront, with cinnamon and almond in the aftertaste

The Christmas Breakfast Fruit Spread first tastes of ripe, sweet strawberry with a delicate fruit acidity. The cinnamon only reveals itself in the aftertaste, warm and more floral than spicy. The almonds add a slightly nutty note and some texture.

Ceylon cinnamon comes from the true cinnamon tree in Sri Lanka. Its sticks consist of many paper-thin, tightly rolled layers of bark. This explains its softer aroma, which suits the strawberry without overpowering it. A little citric acid enhances the fruit acidity and keeps the sweetness in balance. It is also necessary for the pectin to set. This gelling agent only firms up when there is a sufficient amount of sugar and acid.

Anyone expecting a strongly spiced winter variety will find the cinnamon too restrained. With 52 g of sugar per 100 g, the jar is also a classically sweet spread and not suitable for a low-sugar diet. Due to the almonds, this variety is not suitable for allergy sufferers with an almond intolerance.

In cookie dough, on a croissant and alongside brie

The spread belongs on the breakfast table, but can do much more than bread and butter. A sliced, lightly warmed croissant with a teaspoon of it tastes like a festive morning. On a panna cotta, one teaspoon per jar is enough, stirred briefly with a little warm water until smooth. For a Linzer tart with almond shortcrust pastry in a 26-cm mould, around two-thirds of the jar is enough for the filling.

The variety works surprisingly well with soft cheese. Try a ripe brie with coarsely ground black pepper and a dollop of spread on the side. Strawberry and pepper are a proven combination, while the cinnamon bridges the gap to the cheese. Anyone looking for a second winter variety for the festive breakfast should reach for the apple spread with raisins and almonds. For strawberry lovers without spices, there is the pure strawberry fruit spread from the same manufactory.

Our tip: Mix 50 g of soft butter with two tablespoons of spread to make a pink strawberry-cinnamon butter. It melts slowly on warm braided yeast bread or raisin bread. In the refrigerator, it keeps for several days in a sealed bowl.

Strawberries from Schleswig-Holstein for a winter variety

According to the manufacturer, the strawberries for this spread come from Schleswig-Holstein. This means the main ingredient originates from the same federal state as the manufactory. FrüchteMeer is located in Wankendorf, in the hilly lake landscape between Kiel and Neumünster. Susanne Lucht-Thiesen founded the business in 1996 and has been developing it with Karsten Thiesen ever since.

They summarize their understanding of quality in three questions: How is the fruit grown, how do the supply routes work, and how is it processed? According to their own statement, the manufactory uses artisanal production, and every jar passes through the hands of the team. Christmas Breakfast belongs to the Christmas edition and stands there alongside varieties with apple, cherry and pear.

Experience shows that it is worth looking at the proportions. Almonds at 2 percent may sound like little, but they noticeably shape the mouthfeel. The balance shows how the variety is intended: as a strawberry spread with a wintery accent, not as a spice mixture with a little fruit. Anyone who otherwise only buys strawberries in summer will get a version here that suits candlelight and fir greenery.

A Christmas spread also for spice skeptics

Many winter varieties polarize because cinnamon, cloves or cardamom set the tone. This spread takes the opposite approach and stays close to the familiar strawberry. This makes it suitable for mixed groups where not every guest appreciates spices.

At the festive brunch, the jar stands well next to braided butter bread, cheese and fresh fruit. As a gift for an Advent visit, it pairs well with a box of black tea or a stollen. And because the strawberry is in the foreground, the spread still tastes good in January, long after the decorations have been put away in the cellar.

Bring the strawberry into Advent, with just enough cinnamon so that the festive morning tastes wonderful afterwards and summer remains recognizable.