Easy Cherry Clafoutis Recipe

Follow this Cherry Clafoutis recipe to make the easiest summer French dessert in under 45 minutes. This fancy-sounding and fancy-looking custard is perfectly served as a dessert or as a sumptuous breakfast. You need to try this simple recipe!

Have you ever made cherry clafoutis? If no, hurry up to catch the cherry season! Moreover, you will be impressed to find out how simple it is to make this cherry French dessert. So, if you love quick and easy desserts, this is the one!

Jump to:

• What is clafoutis?
• Pit or not pit cherries to make clafoutis
• Cherry clafoutis variations
• How to serve cherry clafoutis
• Why cherry clafoutis recipe works
• Ingredients
• How to make cherry clafoutis step by step recipe
• Expert tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More delicious custard recipes you will love
• Easy Cherry Clafoutis Recipe

What is clafoutis?

Clafoutis is a rustic French dessert made with fresh fruit and covered with the crepe/pancake-like batter. Then the egg batter is baked around the fruit to get a dense and pudding-like texture. Traditionally, it is made with cherries, but other summer fruits perfectly work as well.

Clafoutis is a specialty of Limousin region in France where it is traditionally made with local griottes, or sour morello cherries.

Pit or not pit cherries to make clafoutis

Classic cherry clafoutis is made with unpitted cherries. According to Larousee notes, the pits contain a chemical that causes the almond extract taste. It is considered that unpitted cherries release an almond flavor into the dish while baking.

Attention: if you make clafoutis with unpitted cherries, warn your guests so no one eats a pit in error.

On the other hand, pitted cherries are safer for kids. With pitted cherries, the clafoutis will be a little less tasty, but more pleasant to eat even for adults. Pitted cherries will also change the color of the desert. So, it is up to you to use a cherry pitter or not.

Cherry clafoutis variations

Classic cherry clafoutis is delicious, but nowadays twisting on a classic is a new trend.

Add a few teaspoons of matcha green tea powder to the clafoutis batter and make Cherry Clafoutis With Matcha Tea. To bring a little exoticism to the cherry French dessert, add shredded toasted coconut and make Cherry Coconut Clafoutis.

If you are a dark chocolate lover, you will love this fabulous Dark Chocolate Cherry Clafoutis. Sprinkle the top of the dessert with toasted almonds and bake as Fine Cooking makes their Cherry-Almond Clafoutis.

To make the dessert a bit more original and even more indulgent, opt for an additional layer of pistachio crumble and make Pistachio Cherry Crumble Clafoutis.

A delicious Gluten-free Cherry Clafoutis recipe with the basic gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour will please all gourmets with gluten intolerance. Enjoy another exciting almond and chestnut flour combination and make Cherry Clafoutis with Chestnut Flour.

If you are vegan, you do not need to limit yourself with this amazing French treat: make Vegan Cherry Clafoutis!

How to serve cherry clafoutis

Serve the clafoutis cold, at room temperature, or warm in a dish it was baked: it does not need to be turned out. Sprinkle it with powdered (icing) sugar or vanilla sugar to enhance the flavor.

If you desire, garnish the ready dessert with toasted almonds as per King Arthur Flour or coarsely crushed sugared almonds as per Christophe Michalak.

Traditionally, cherry clafoutis is served on its own, but feel free to accompany the dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a whipped cream dollop.

To highlight the gourmet side of cherries, accompany cherry clafoutis with a slightly sweet sparkling wine, better with aromas of red fruits.

Why cherry clafoutis recipe works

1. This cherry French dessert is the best option to serve at a party. It is just made for a crowd.
2. Cherry clafoutis is an easy and quick dessert. You have no chance to fail with this French treat.
3. A few basic ingredients are always available to make this easy clafoutis recipe.
4. Sweet cherries are stars of the show! They are one of the best summer fruits to make clafoutis.
5. Baking the base of cherry clafoutis before pouring the rest of the batter and arranging cherries on top prevent sinking fruits to the bottom.
6. The rich and velvety texture of the custard melts in the mouth and pleases taste buds.
7. Using other summer fruits opens possibilities for clafoutis’ personalization.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of what ingredients you will need. Follow the full recipe below for detailed amounts and instructions. I recommend making this recipe as written for the best results. 

Cherries: fresh deep red sweet cherries are the best to make this cherry clafoutis. Frozen fruits work as well, but the juice might color the dish after baking.

Eggs: the recipe calls for large whole eggs.

Flour: use all-purpose flour or switch it to gluten-free mix or almond flour to make the gluten-free version of clafoutis.

Granulated sugar: it merely works for the recipe.

Heavy cream: regular heavy cream is perfect to use.

Milk: use whole milk for this recipe.

Vanilla sugar: make vanilla sugar yourself or use a store-bought one.

Salt: a little pinch brings the flavors together in this dessert.

Rum: use dark rum or replace it with kirsch (cherry brandy), other fruit brandy or vanilla extract, if you are going to serve the dish to kids.

How to make cherry clafoutis step by step recipe

Preheat oven to 420 F/215 C. To make the batter, in a bowl, place eggs, salt, vanilla sugar, granulated sugar and flour (photo 1), and whisk 5 minutes, using a hand whisk (photo 2).

Add rum, whole milk, heavy cream, and mix everything a few minutes (photo 3). Pour the batter to the bottom of an oblong baking dish (do not grease the pan) up to 1 to 2 cm (photo 4) and bake for 15 minutes.

Take the dish out of the oven and place it in the freezer for 5 minutes (photo 5). Add a new layer of the remaining batter and arrange unpitted cherries with shortened tails (photo 6). Bake for 10 to 15 minutes while watching.

Decorate ready clafoutis (photo 7) with cherries dipped in a cherry jam. Sprinkle with powdered (icing) sugar (photo 8).

Expert tips

1. Make the clafoutis in an iron skillet, pie dish, or individual square ramekins.
2. Replace rum with kirsch (cherry brandy), other fruit brandy or vanilla extract, if you are going to serve the dish to kids.
3. Pit cherries if you want, primarily if you serve the dish to small kids. However, take into consideration that the color of pitted cherries would bleed into the custard.
4. Rest the batter for at least 30 to 60 minutes, better overnight, in the fridge. This step allows protein in the flour to chill out and relax; although, this step is optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use a blender for the clafoutis batter?

Yes, you can use a blender or an electric mixer to mix all the ingredients.  

Can you make clafoutis in advance?

Make the clafoutis batter, cover with a plastic film and let it rest overnight. Next day, bake the dessert as directed. You can also bake cherry clafoutis one day in advance and refrigerate till serving.

What other fruits can you use to make clafoutis?

Use pitted apricots, raspberry, blackberry, pears, or apples instead of cherries. Try to avoid nectarines, peaches, fresh plums since they are too juicy for this kind of custard.

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The nutrition information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator and is intended for informational purposes only and should be used as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool. Please, read the disclaimers in our Privacy Policy.

The recipe was adapted from https://www.femmeactuelle.fr/ It was originally published on July 2, 2018. The recipe has been revised to include improved content and photos. All posted pictures are mine.