CHERRY CLAFOUTIS
Ingredients
- 450g/1lb ripe cherries
- the best you can find
- stones removed
- 3 tbsp caster sugar
- plus extra for sprinkling
- 3 tbsp kirsch (optional)
- 20g/¾oz unsalted butter
- plus extra for greasing
- 2 free-range eggs
- 3 tbsp caster sugar
- plus extra for sprinkling
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 heaped tbsp plain flour
- 50g/1¾fl oz whole milk
- 75g/2¼fl oz whipping cream
- pinch sea salt
Directions
- Gently mix together the cherries
- sugar and kirsch and leave to macerate for two hours. (The sugar will slowly permeate the cherries and intensify their flavour.)
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease a baking dish with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Shake the sugar around the dish so that it is evenly coated
- then tip out any excess.
- For the batter
- heat the butter in a small pan until it turns a pale hazelnut colour – this is called a beurre noisette. Do not allow the butter to burn or it will become bitter and carcinogenic. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside in a warm place.
- In a large bowl whisk together the eggs
- sugar and vanilla until creamy.
- Add the flour
- whisk until smooth
- then slowly incorporate the milk
- cream
- salt and beurre noisette.
- Mix the macerated cherries and their juice into the batter and pour into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes
- or until the top is slightly domed and the blade of a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- To finish
- sprinkle with caster sugar and serve warm.

