This week’s Cook the Book Fridays recipe, Apricot Crumble Tart, was love at first sight. I love fruit tarts, I LOVE apricots, and I love crumbles. Talk about an easy sell. In fact, this is not even the first time that I’ve made this particular recipe.
Even so, I was excited to make it again and to help distribute the calories, we invited some friends over on Sunday for Kaffee und Kuchen. Kaffee und Kuchen, or Coffee and Cake, is a German tradition perhaps best described as a more casual version of the English High Tea. According to the German Mission in the United States’ website, “In between lunch and dinner, there is traditionally a short break for a social gathering around a piece of cake or two and a hot steaming cup of coffee or tea. This ritual is referred to as Kaffee und Kuchen, Kaffeetrinken, or Kaffeeklatsch. These days, it is still quite common to get together with friends and family on a Sunday afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. to share some cake and good conversation.”
Now, I can’t speak for all Germans, but I can tell you that this tradition lives strong in my social circle here in Frankfurt. Not necessarily every Sunday, but I would say at least once a month we will go out and meet friends for cake on a Sunday afternoon. Every bakery or cafe will of course have something to offer, but many restaurants get in on the action as well, and judging by how difficult it can be to nab a table at some of the more popular spots, it would seem that we are not the only ones observing this particular tradition.
But this past Sunday there was no need to jostle for a table. Instead, I stayed home and made David’s very season and delicious Apricot Crumble Tart and topped it off with his recommended Apricot Kernel Ice Cream. The tart was a cinch to put together, especially the crust was far lower maintenance than your average tart crust dough. The ice cream required a bit of patience, a little muscle, and a lot of noise to get the kernels out of their shells, but once that task was done, the rest was quite straightforward. The result was a creamy and wonderful ice cream with a distinct almond taste, which paired perfectly with the tart.
All in all, this was a wonderful combination and one which is bound to become a summer tradition in our house.
one expat's life 
I was looking forward to David’s ice cream but ran out of time. Hopefully soon! Your tart looks amazing, Rose! Love the Kaffee und Kuchen tradition. A great way to enjoy friends.
Beautiful tart and the photo with the ice cream looks perfect.
I love that tradition. We need something like that in the states. This was a perfect sweet to serve. As you pointed out, we had the opposite oven experience. I only wish mine had approached your browner finish. Some day I’ll try the ice cream, but I need a better source for apricots.
I love your description. I think that the coffektatch (as we’d likely spell it here) should make a comeback. How wonderful to take a break for a little coffee, cake and conversation?
So happy you loved this!!! I didn’t make the ice cream. I’m sure it made a lovely combination.
Have a wonderful weekend!
The Kaffee und Kuchen tradition seems to go a long way to build friendships and community. A delicious tart like this one makes it all the more enjoyable.
Coffee and cake is also a tradition in Holland where my dad’s side of the family is from and I remember when we visited when I was 10 years old, we enjoyed this tradition very much 🙂 Good for you for making the ice cream – I won’t be in too much of a hurry since I am not a fan of almond flavour but I am curious to try.
I approve of any ritual that involves cake. I’m jealous of your apricots. I haven’t seen one in the store for weeks. I’ll need to make this with peaches. The peaches have been fabulous this year, so I’m not that broken up about it, assuming I can stop eating them long enough to bake them.
That is a lovely tradition! I’ve been toying with the idea of having a get-together the last Sunday of every month (for far too long – I should get on it). We don’t really have enough social rituals in Canada and the U.S., I feel. I only got 14 kernels from two pounds of apricots, so I may be freezing them in anticipation of next year’s crop.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one to make the ice cream–and thanks for that suggestion, miss! I wish I could do something on Sundays–other than Sunday Funday, which has really gone defunct since having a kiddo–but during the school year that day is a whirlwind. Such a nice idea, though, to stop and enjoy some friends (and cake!). Beautiful plate there, Rose!
I agree that we need a tradition of this sort. What a delightful idea! Glad that the ice cream turned out so well, as did the tart. Looks positively delicious!
There are some wonderful European traditions that, after traveling abroad, Michael and I would always vow to bring back and continue in our life here in the states. Once the traveling and vacation is over, it would be a nice thing for us to do. But somehow we never kept that something for more than 2 or 3 weeks. The Sunday “let them eat cake” tradition is one of those. Some revolved around liquor, I must admit. So it was fun to read about your social “cake” Sunday and the delicious crumble and ice cream you served. I couldn’t find fresh apricots so couldn’t attempt the ice cream. You seem to think it was worth the effort and I have to believe your friends were impressed. I certainly am. Nice post.
I like the tradition of coffee and cake on a Sunday too. My grandmother was German and she often served coffee and cake at 3 o´clock. It is a nice way to make a little event for no particular reason, I was not sure about the ice cream but you have me convinced it is worth trying!
You did great with the combo, the ice cream fabulous! For Malaysians (and Singaporeans too, IMO) weekends Hi-Tea are popular but always away from home.. the major hotels restaurants/coffee houses will be packed with families with/without their extended families.
What a nice tradition of coffee and cake- it makes one slow down!! Your cake looks great, I was not able to make the ice cream but you have inspired me to try it later.