Photo by David Bishop
As the local cherry season comes to a close, I present a childhood favorite, clafoutis. The beauty of this self-crusting simple, rustic dessert is that it uses ripe, seasonal fruit with a crepe batter that bakes up like a popover into a luscious, custardy treat in fifteen minutes. Traditionally made with cherries in the Limousin region of France, practically any fruit can be used. I mixed Queen Anne, sometimes called White Cherries, with Bing Cherries for added eye and flavor appeal.
Pre-heat oven to 425' F
- 6 oz. fresh pitted cherries or enough to cover the bottom of the baking dish(es) completely
- 1/4 cup of whole milk
- 1/4 cup of granular sugar plus 2 Tbs. for sprinkling
- 1/8 cup all purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1/8 teaspoon of hazelnut extract
- butter to grease the pan
- powdered sugar as garnish
- In a blender mix all of the ingredients except the cherries, butter and powdered sugar
- Butter an oven proof pan or baking dish that just holds 16 oz. of water or two 8 oz. dishes
- Place the pitted cherries in the bottom of the baking dish
- Pour the batter around the cherries
- Sprinkle sugar over the cherries and batter
- Place the dish in the center of the middle shelf of the oven
- Bake until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar using a small sieve
- Serve warm
Styling tip: Prick cherries before baking to allow juices to flow more easily
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