Elevenses: Autumn intro

As summer slowly fades, autumn flavors step in – apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and honey. Around eleven o’clock, it feels just right to enjoy a small, warm, or crunchy bite that carries us happily to lunch. This week I’ve prepared three autumn-inspired ideas: something warm, something creamy, and something crunchy.

Jump to: Warm Apples · Walnut Yogurt · Cinnamon Toast

🍏 Warm Apples with Honey and Walnuts

When the scent of baked apples fills the air, autumn has truly begun. Honey, walnuts, and cinnamon make the perfect comforting combo.

Ingredients (serves 1):
1 large apple • 1 tsp honey • handful chopped walnuts • pinch of cinnamon

Method:

1. Slice the apple into wedges and place in a small pan or baking dish.
2. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with walnuts.
3. Dust with cinnamon.
4. Warm in the oven (180 °C / 350 °F, 10 min) or pan until softened.

Tip: Add nutmeg or ginger for extra warmth.

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🥣 Greek Yogurt with Walnuts and Maple Syrup

Creamy, quick, and protein-packed. This walnut yogurt with maple syrup is a perfect autumn pick-me-up.

Ingredients (serves 1):
150 g Greek yogurt • handful walnuts or hazelnuts • 1–2 tsp maple syrup • handful dried cranberries (optional)

Method:

1. Spoon yogurt into a bowl.
2. Add roughly chopped walnuts.
3. Drizzle with maple syrup.
4. Optionally, toss in some cranberries.

Tip: Toast the walnuts lightly in a pan to deepen their flavor.

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🍞 Cinnamon Sugar Toast

Simple but incredibly fragrant. Warm toast with butter, sugar, and cinnamon is the ultimate autumn comfort snack.

Ingredients (serves 1):
1 slice wholegrain bread • 1 tsp butter • 1 tsp brown sugar • pinch of cinnamon

Method:

1. Spread butter on the bread.
2. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Toast in a pan or toaster until crisp and golden.

Tip: Add a thin layer of cream cheese under the butter for extra richness.

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Elevenses: yogurt, crisp bites & a touch of banana sweetness

At eleven o’clock, we all deserve a little pause. Not a full lunch, but that small ritual that gets the blood flowing and brings a smile until the next meal. The English call it elevenses — so why not make it our own too? This time I’ve put together three ideas: something creamy, something crunchy, and something sweet — so everyone can find their perfect bite.

Jump to: Yogurt cup · Crackers & cottage cheese · Banana bites & chocolate

🍓 Yogurt cup with strawberries & granola

This yogurt cup never disappoints. It’s ready in minutes and works with any seasonal fruit. Store-bought granola is fine, but homemade is easy, tastier, and you know exactly what’s inside.

Ingredients (serves 1):
150 g Greek yogurt • a handful of fresh strawberries • 2 tbsp granola • 1 tsp honey or agave

Method:

1. Spoon half the yogurt into a glass.
2. Add sliced strawberries, then the remaining yogurt.
3. Top with granola.
4. Finish with a drizzle of honey.

Tip: If you’re packing it to go, keep granola separate and add just before eating for maximum crunch.

Homemade granola (base):

Ingredients (fills 1 large jar):
200 g rolled oats • 50 g chopped nuts • 2 tbsp coconut oil (or butter) • 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup • pinch cinnamon • pinch salt

1. Preheat oven to 160 °C.
2. Mix oats, nuts, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Warm coconut oil with honey; pour over and mix well.
4. Spread on a lined tray; bake 20–25 minutes, stirring once.
5. Cool completely and store airtight.

Tip: Stir in dried fruit or coconut once cooled to customize your blend.

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🥒 Wholegrain crackers with cottage cheese & cucumber

Quick savory bite: creamy cottage cheese, fresh cucumber and a crisp base. Protein-rich, light, and refreshing — perfect for elevenses.

Ingredients (serves 1):
3–4 wholegrain crackers • 3 tbsp cottage cheese • 1/2 small cucumber • a drizzle olive oil • salt • pepper

Method:

1. Spread cottage cheese over the crackers.
2. Top with thin cucumber slices.
3. Season lightly and drizzle with olive oil.

Tip: Add a few leaves of arugula or radicchio for a gentle bitter note.

Herbed cottage cheese:

Ingredients: 200 g cottage cheese • 1 tbsp chopped chives • 1 tbsp chopped parsley • pinch salt & pepper • 1 tbsp olive oil

1. Mix cottage cheese with herbs and seasoning.
2. Stir in olive oil until creamy; refrigerate up to 3 days.

Tip: A little grated garlic or lemon zest gives a fresh lift.

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🍫 Mini banana bites with dark chocolate

Banana, peanut butter and dark chocolate — the classic combo that feels like dessert but takes a minute to make.

Ingredients (serves 1):
1 banana • 2 tsp peanut butter • 30 g dark chocolate

Method:

1. Slice the banana into rounds.
2. Spread a little peanut butter on each slice.
3. Spoon over melted chocolate and let set.

Tip: Choose dark chocolate (≥70% cocoa) for deeper flavor and less sugar.

Frozen “mini ice creams”:

1. Freeze banana slices for 30 minutes first.
2. Sandwich two slices with peanut butter.
3. Dip in melted chocolate and freeze at least 1 hour.

Tip: Sprinkle chopped nuts or coconut on top for a mini “magnum” vibe.

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