Cherry Clafoutis

Recipe by: Lora Zarubin | from I Am Almost Always Hungry: Seasonal Menus and Memorable Recipes

Cookstr

Course: Dessert

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Shutterstock, stock photo of a similar dish.

This clafoutis is a chic breakfast dessert. Prepare it as close to serving time as you can, so the cherries are still a little warm. I leave the pits in the cherries because the fruit holds its shape better and the juice does not escape. However, for ease of eating you can certainly pit them. If you don’t, be sure to let your guests know beforehand.

Yield: Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

1 pound firm fresh cherries, washed and stems removed
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
3 eggs, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
½ cup creme fraiche
¼ cup heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, cut in half, seeds scraped out and reserved
½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
Confectioners sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Place the cherries in an earthenware baking dish just large enough for the cherries to all lay flat. Sprinkle them with the sugar. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and gently place the cherries in a strainer for 15 minutes to drain off any excess liquid. Discard the liquid.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Wash and dry the same baking dish and then coat it with the butter.

Beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the crème fraîche, heavy cream, and reserved vanilla bean seeds. Stir in the flour. Let this batter rest for 15 minutes.

Place the cherries back in the buttered earthenware dish in one layer. Pour the batter over the cherries and bake for 35 minutes or until the top is firm and golden brown. Remove the clafoutis from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve.

Notes

Using an earthenware baking dish (see Sources) for this recipe gives the best results because the whole dish heats at the same time and therefore cooks evenly.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information does not include Confectioners sugar, for dusting.

Calories 270kcal (14%)

Sodium 55mg (2%)

Total Carbohydrate 40g

Fiber 2g

Fat 11g (17%)

Trans Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 6g (29%)

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g