Cherry Clafoutis French Custard Dessert

Cherry clafoutis (pronounced klah-foo-tee) is a popular French custard dessert consisting of cherries covered with a flan-like batter. Its full name in French is clafoutis aux cerises.

I first learned of this delicious dessert when I was taking a pastry class in France. Although we didn’t prepare it in class, another student told me it was a dessert no cherry lover like me should miss. Now it’s a standard in my dessert repertoire.

Clafoutis Origins

The recipe comes from Limousin, a rural region of south-central France. You may be familiar with its capital city, Limoges, home to fine porcelain. The dessert’s popularity grew in the 19th century and is now a French classic. The name comes from the verb “clafir” in the local dialect of Limousin and means “to fill.”

Fountain and Town Hall in Limoges, France | Jade

Authentic Cherry Clafoutis

The authentic French recipe for cherry clafoutis calls for using cherries with the pits intact (but stems removed!) because this adds to the flavor. However, this can be dangerous particularly if you have young eaters enjoying your clafoutis. My preference is to remove the pits.

Cherry pits release a flavor similar to almond extract when baked. If you want to duplicate this taste without the pits, you can add a small amount of almond extract to your clafoutis.

Cherry Clafoutis Ingredients | Patrice Rutledge

If you plan to use fresh cherries, I recommend using a cherry pitter. This makes the job of removing the pits so much easier. If you’ve ever tried to remove pits from a large bowl of cherries, you’ll recognize the value of this handy tool.

If fresh cherries aren’t in season, you can substitute frozen cherries. Just remember to thaw and drain them of excess liquid before placing them in your baking dish. In addition, frozen cherries are available year-round. So you’re not limited to when you can prepare this delicious dessert.

It’s All About the Cherries: Clafoutis Signature Ingredient

Cherries are the star of clafoutis and for good reason. In France, Burlat cherries are a popular choice for clafoutis. They’re a sweet, black cherry similar to California Bing cherries.

Clafoutis might be a dessert, but cherries offer clear health benefits. They’re loaded with antioxidants and are also a good source of vitamin C and potassium.

Cherries for Clafoutis | Patrice Rutledge

Clafoutis or Flaugnarde?

Although cherries are the traditional fruit in clafoutis, you can get creative and try some other options. Other ideas include blueberries, pears, figs, apples, raspberries, or blackberries. French tradition, however, states that if you don’t use cherries your dish is actually a flaugnarde (pronounced floh-nyard). In French, it’s spelled flognarde. Whatever the name, it’s equally delicious.

Eggs Are a Key Ingredient in Clafoutis | Patrice Rutledge

How to Serve Cherry Clafoutis

Serve your clafoutis warm, right out of the oven after a brief cooling. If there is anything left, it’s important to refrigerate. You can garnish with powdered sugar or serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Cherry Clafoutis

Patrice Rutledge

Cherry clafoutis is a custard dessert from France.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings 8 servings

Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cups cherries
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine

Instructions

 

• If using fresh cherries, rinse under cool water and pit them (unless you prefer keeping the pits). If using frozen cherries, ensure they are defrosted.
• Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees. Butter a round pie pan.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and beat with a hand mixer. Add the melted butter.
• In the buttered pie pan, place the cherries and pour the batter over them.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg

Keyword cherry dessert, clafoutis, custard dessert, French dessert

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