Delicious Cottage Cheese and Peach Cake

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 200g (7 oz) butter, softened at room temperature
• 100g (½ cup) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 380g (3 cups) all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 10g (2 teaspoons) baking powder

For the Cheese Filling:

• 1kg (2.2 lbs) cottage cheese, drained
• 200g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 150g (5.3 oz) butter, melted and cooled
• 350ml (1½ cups) canned peaches, drained and chopped

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Dough

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 200g softened butter and 100g sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes using an electric mixer.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms.
5. Divide the dough into two portions: ⅔ for the base and ⅓ for the topping.
6. Press the larger portion into the bottom of a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking pan lined with parchment paper.

Creating the Filling

1. If using wet cottage cheese, drain it through a fine-mesh strainer for 30 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese and sugar, mixing until well blended.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time until smooth.
4. Add cornstarch and melted butter, mixing until fully incorporated.
5. Gently fold in the chopped peaches.

Assembly and Baking

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Pour the cheese filling over the base layer, spreading it evenly.
3. Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the filling.
4. Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Cool completely in the pan for at least 2 hours before slicing.

Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 12 servings)

• Calories: 485
• Protein: 18g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fat: 28g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 24g

Timing

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Baking Time: 60-65 minutes
• Cooling Time: 2 hours
• Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes

Pro Tips and Tricks

• Use full-fat cottage cheese for the richest flavor and best texture
• Bring all refrigerated ingredients to room temperature before starting
• For a smoother filling, process the cottage cheese in a food processor before mixing
• Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal
• Test doneness by gently shaking the pan – the center should be set with minimal jiggle
• Cool completely before cutting for clean, beautiful slices

Variations and Substitutions

• Replace peaches with other canned fruits like apricots or pears
• Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the filling for extra flavor
• Substitute ricotta cheese for cottage cheese (strain well first)
• Add lemon zest to the filling for brightness
• Incorporate ground nuts into the crumb topping for extra texture
• Use gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free version (add 1 tsp xanthan gum)