This fruit dessert comes together easily, and is oh so delicious!
Prep Time: 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 50 minutesminutes
Total: 1 hourhour5 minutesminutes
Servings: 8servings (one 8" clafoutis).
Ingredients
1/4cupsliced almonds
3tablespoonsunsalted butter, melted
3eggs
1/3cupsugar (plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling over the top)
1/4teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract (or the seeds from 1 vanilla bean)
2/3cupcake flour
1cuphalf and half
1/2poundapricots, quartered
1/2poundcherries, pitted
1tablespoonbrandy or kirsh
Instructions
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350º. Spread the almonds on a small baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 4 minutes or so. Remove and set aside. Increase the oven to 400º.
Brush a 10" solid-bottom tart, pie or cake pan or skillet with a bit of the melted butter.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Sift the flour over and whisk until very smooth. Gradually whisk in the half and half. The consistency will be that of a thick crepe batter.
Combine the fruit and brandy in a medium bowl, tossing several times.
Lay the fruit evenly in the bottom of the buttered pan. Whisk any leftover juices and the rest of the melted butter into the batter. Pour the batter over the fruit. Scatter the almonds over the top and sprinkle with the 1 tablespoon sugar. (Alternately, bake the clafoutis for 10 minutes first, then add the almonds and sugar and continue baking. This makes a slightly prettier dessert.)
Bake the clafoutis until puffed and golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 40 - 50 minutes. Remove and let cool at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to several days; reheat if you like.
Notes
Feel free to swap in any fruit you like for the cherries and apricots: peaches, berries, figs, roasted apples or rhubarb are some favorites.The batter can be made a day or two ahead if you like, and stored in the fridge. A bit of yogurt, creme fraiche or unsweetened whipped cream makes a nice accompaniment.I've found that cake flour makes the most delicate, creamy clafoutis; all-purpose can be used in a pinch, but the result won't be quite as silky.Nutritional values are based on one of eight servings.