Cream cheese fritters with English summer maple cherries

It’s officially summer ­– the season to enjoy fresh summer fruit, al fresco dining and BBQs in the garden.
With English cherries at the height of their season this month, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers created a recipe to showcase them in all their glory.
Their cream cheese fritters with English summer cherries and pure maple syrup from Quebec (or Ontario) make a lovely breakfast, brunch or dessert. The delicate creaminess of the cheese offsets the rich sweetness of the cherries and maple syrup to create a light yet indulgent summer treat.

Ingredients

For the fritters:
200g cream cheese
250g cottage cheese, well drained
2 large eggs
1 tsp natural vanilla extract
40g maple sugar
40g chopped raisins
Grated lemon zest
75g plain flour (plus extra for dusting)
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp vegetable oil

For the cherries and maple syrup:
175ml pure maple syrup from Quebec
200g fresh cherries
1 lemon, squeezed for juice

Method
Place cream cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla extract and sugar in a bowl.
Beat until smooth. Stir in raisins and lemon zest.
Sieve flour and combine.
Cover and refrigerate for four hours, or overnight.
Roll into balls with excess flour, flatten into disks.
Place on baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Melt butter and oil in frying pan and cook fritters for 2 minutes each side until golden brown.
Keep warm in low oven.
Heat maple syrup, lemon juice, cherries and 1 tbsp of water in a pan until cherries become soft.
Serve the fritters warm with cherries.
Any fresh of preserved fruit can be used. All seasonal fruits can be used e.g. poached pears and pineapple would be a good alternative.