Special Weekday Breakfast: Air Fryer Apple-Cinnamon Bakes

This is a variant of a recipe I posted days ago for Air Fryer Bananas Foster Baked Oatmeal and responds to a reader's request for a non-banana version. The little apple cinnamon bakes are quick to put together, incredibly nutritious with lots of protein, fruit, and fiber, and, best of all, they really taste good! This apple version is a great way to use up any apples that you have lingering on your counter that are, shall we say, less than prime. I peel my apples, but you don't have to do so, if you're short on time or want extra fiber. The little bakes take minutes to make in the air fryer, so they're perfect for a weekday breakfast as well as a special treat. I usually make a couple of extra, which I stash in the refrigerator and heat in the microwave--about a minute on 50 percent power--later in the week. Go for the little apple bakes! They're good! And try topping them with some vanilla yogurt--yum!

Air Fryer Apple-Cinnamon Bakes -- Makes 4

1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese (I use 1 percent)

4 large eggs

1/2 cup of quick oats (not instant)

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, plus extra for sprinkling

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

2 tablespoons of brown sugar, divided

1 medium-large apple, peeled and chopped into 1/4-1/2-inch pieces (1 - 1 1/2 cups)

Coat 4 small ramekins (3-4 inches in diameter) with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, eggs, oats, cinnamon, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar. Divide half of the apples among the ramekins, spreading the apple pieces on the bottom of the ramekins. Pour the cottage cheese mixture over the apples. Divide the remaining apple pieces among the ramekins, placing the apple pieces on top of the cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle the apples with a little cinnamon and then sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the apples in each ramekin. Place 2-4 ramekins in the air fryer (depending on the size of your air fryer and what will fit, you may have to cook the bakes 2-at-a-time). Set the temperature at 360 and cook the bakes for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 320 degrees and cook for 3-8 minutes more or until the bakes are set and the tops are golden brown. Let the bakes sit a few minutes before serving them (they're hot!). You can flip the bakes out of the ramekins or serve them "as is," depending on your preference.