Brandied Fruit Clafouti Food

BRANDIED CHERRY CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Mix cherries, brandy, and 1/3 cup white sugar in a bowl; let soak for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Spray a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.
• Remove cherries from brandy mixture using a slotted spoon and transfer to the prepared pie pan. Pour brandy mixture into a blender; add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, milk, flour, eggs, vanilla extract, lemon zest, salt, and allspice to the blender. Pulse mixture until batter is smooth; pour over cherries.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking until golden and puffy, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool slightly and dust with confectioners' sugar to serve.

APPLE CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make the batter: Sift the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt into a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, egg yolk, and milk until well blended. Add about 1/3 of the egg mixture to the flour mixture and whisk until smooth, then gradually incorporate the remaining egg mixture. Whisk until well blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.
• Cook the apples: With the tip of a knife, scrape the vanilla bean seeds from the pod into an ovenproof 10-inch cast iron or stainless steel skillet. Add the pod and the butter and cook over moderately high heat until the butter turns nut brown. Add a pinch of salt. Add the apples and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean pod and discard. Sprinkle the apples with the sugar, reduce the heat to moderately low, and cook until the apples are almost cooked through and the sugar has melted and is coating the apples in a light syrup. Add the grappa or other brandy off the fire while pouring, place back on the fire, wait for flame to die down, the swirl the pan briefly. Spread the fruit evenly in the skillet.
• Working quickly, pour batter evenly over the fruit. Bake until the edges of the clafouti are puffed and browned and the center is set, about 15 minutes.
• Put some confectioners' sugar in a sieve and generously dust the surface of the clafouti. Serve warm directly from the pan with a dollop of creme fraiche.
• Michael's Notes: If you plan to serve individual clafoutis from mini pans, heat the pans in the oven until quite hot, about 5 minutes, then divide the cooked fruit among the pans, top with the batter, and bake. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the pans.
• To make a cherry clafouti, use 1 1/4 cups pitted cherries. Substitute 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest for the cinnamon and Grand Marnier for the grappa.

CLAFOUTIS AUX POIRES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the seeds from the vanilla bean and the 2 teaspoons of sugar in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Butter four 10-by-1 1/2-inch baking dishes and dust each of them with the vanilla sugar. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, and then on low speed add the 2/3 cup sugar, the flour, salt, heavy cream, milk, grated anise and pear brandy. Mix for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth, and then let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel, quarter, core and slice the pears and place the slices in a single layer on the bottom of each baking dish. Pour the batter over the top. Bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Sprinkle with lime zest and serve warm.

PEAR CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter a 10 x 3 x 1 1/2-inch round baking dish and sprinkle the bottom and sides with 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar.
• Beat the eggs and the 1/3 cup of granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. On low speed, mix in the flour, cream, vanilla extract, lemon zest, salt, and pear brandy. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel, quarter, core, and slice the pears. Arrange the slices in a single layer, slightly fanned out, in the baking dish. Pour the batter over the pears and bake until the top is golden brown and the custard is firm, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, and creme fraiche.

RASPBERRY CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk flour and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl. Whisk in eggs and butter. Add 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk and lemon juice; whisk until batter is very smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Pour batter into a 9-inch oval or round baking dish. Scatter raspberries on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffy and golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool, about 15 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

BASIC CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and butter until the sugar is dissolved. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Pour the batter into a cast iron skillet or pie pan.
• 2. Now add your favorite fruit or flavoring (see below). Bake until the clafoutis is beautifully puffed and golden, 35-40 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Clafoutis Variations: Concord Grape Clafoutis: Once the batter is in the skillet, scatter 2 cups slightly crushed Concord or other black or red grapes on top. Cherry Clafoutis: Scatter 2 cups pitted cherries onto the batter once it's poured into pie plates. Pear Clafoutis with Pear Eau de Vie: Core 1 ripe pear and cut into pieces. Pour the batter into the skillet and top with the pear pieces. Bake. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons eau de vie and serve immediately. Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut Clafoutis: Melt 1 cup chopped milk chocolate in a large mixing bowl set above a simmering pot of water. Fold in the clafoutis batter until smooth and fully incorporated. Pour into a skillet or pie plate, sprinkle with 1/4 cup coarsely chopped hazelnuts, and bake.

MISSION FIG CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make the batter: Sift the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt into a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, egg yolk, and milk until well blended. Add about 1/3of the egg mixture to the flour mixture and whisk to form a paste, then gradually incorporate the remaining egg mixture. Whisk until well blended.
• Cook the figs: With the tip of a knife, scrape the vanilla bean seeds from the pod into an ovenproof 10-inch cast iron or stainless steel skillet. Add the pod and the butter and cook over moderately high heat until the butter turns nut brown. Add the figs and cook, stirring often, for about 1 minute to soften them. Remove the vanilla bean pod and discard. Sprinkle the figs with the granulated sugar, reduce the heat to moderately low, and cook until the the sugar has melted and is coating the figs in a light syrup. Add the grappa or other brandy, swirl the pan briefly, then spread the fruit evenly in the pan.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Working quickly, pour the batter through a sieve evenly over the fruit. Bake until the edges of the clafouti are puffed and browned and the center is set, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.
• Put some confectioners' sugar in a sieve and generously dust the surface of the clafouti. Serve warm directly from the pan with a dollop of creme fraiche.

CRANBERRY CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, egg yolks, 1/2 cup turbinado sugar, the half-and-half, flour, Grand Marnier, vanilla and salt in a blender. Pulse until the sugar has dissolved and the batter is smooth, about 1 minute. Let sit at room temperature, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Butter the bottom and side of an 11-inch ceramic tart pan or pie plate and set on a baking sheet. Toss the cranberries with 5 tablespoons turbinado sugar in a small bowl; spread in the bottom of the prepared tart pan. Bake until the mixture starts to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 375 degrees F.
• Carefully pour 1 cup of the prepared batter into the hot pan and let sit 5 minutes, then pour in the remaining batter. Sprinkle the remaining 3 tablespoons turbinado sugar on top. Bake until puffed and almost set, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 20 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

BRANDIED PLUM CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush six 5-inch diameter, 1-inch-high ovenproof dishes with 1 tablespoon melted butter; place dishes on rimmed baking sheet. Cook diced plums, 4 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons brandy in medium skillet over medium-high heat until juices bubble thickly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Cover; cook until plums are just tender, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, divide diced plums among prepared dishes. Add orange juice concentrate to juices in skillet; stir to blend. Pour into 1-cup measuring cup. Add remaining 2 tablespoons brandy, then enough cream to measure 3/4 cup total.
• Whisk 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and flour in large bowl. Whisk in cream mixture, eggs, and remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter. Spoon batter over plums in dishes. Top with plum slices; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake clafoutis until puffed and crusty and center is just set, about 30 minutes. Cool 15 minutes and serve warm.

PEACH CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Drain the peaches well.
• Toss with the cranberries, brandy, lemon juice and cinnamon.
• Arrange in a 10" casserole or deep-dish pie plate, mounding the fruit slightly in the centre of the dish.
• Whisk the eggs with the evaporated milk and melted butter.
• Blend the flour with the sugar, baking powder and salt.
• Gradually add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients, whisking until smooth.
• Pour the batter over the peach mixture.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the centre is set and the top is golden.
• Sprinkle with icing sugar if desired.
• Serve warm.

APPLE OR PEAR CLAFOUTI (AN EASY FRENCH DESSERT)

Steps:

• Sift flour, sugar and baking powder into a bowl.
• Make a well in the center of mixture and add the eggs, milk and vanilla extract.
• Mix in well to form a smooth batter.
• Add 4 TBS of the melted butter.
• Let batter stand for 30 minutes while preparing the fruit.
• Pre-heat the oven to 450°F.
• Butter an 8 inch round cake tin.
• Stir the fruit into the batter and pour into the tin.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
• Serve warm, or cold.

PUMPKIN CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut the pumpkin or squash in half and scrape out the seeds. Place the halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet, and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
• 2. When cool enough to handle, scrape the flesh into a food processor and blend to a smooth purée. Line a sieve with a double layer of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and place over a bowl. Spoon the purée into the lined sieve and let it drain in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, pass the drained purée through a fine sieve to yield 2/3 cup (use any remaining purée for another purpose).
• 3. Place the eggs, 3/4 cup of the sugar, the milk, cream, vanilla extract, vanilla pulp, and salt in a blender or food processor. Blend or pulse the mixture until very smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the pumpkin purée and blend well. Add the flour and pulse until well combined.
• 4. Pass the batter through a fine sieve, then let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• 5. Preheat oven to 425°F. Brush a 9-inch quiche or pie plate with the melted butter and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Sprinkle the hazelnuts in the pan. Pour the batter over the nuts. Bake the clafouti for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 375°F and bake until the center is just set, about 12 minutes. Serve immediately.

RHUBARB CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Cut rhubarb on pieces and cook them with sugar and cinnamon for 10 minutes until they soften slightly.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (190 celsius).
• Spread the fruit filling in the baking dish and cover with strawberry halves.
• Beat eggs and sugar just to blend them, then mix in other ingredients. Pour over the fruit.
• Bake for 20 minutes until brown.
• Serve warm with whipped cream.

BRANDIED FRUIT CLAFOUTI

Steps:

• Combine the apricot slivers and raisins in the brandy; cover and let the mixture blend overnight (refrigerated or not).
• The next day, drain off the brandy from the raisins; preheat oven to 400 degrees F and butter and sugar a 9-1/2 inch round baking dish (preferably Pyrex or ceramic).
• Spread the apricot/raisin mixture in the bottom of the prepared dish and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg.
• In a large bowl with a mixer, beat together the eggs and sugar until foamy.
• Add melted butter, almond and vanilla extract; then slowly add milk, flour, lemon zest, coriander, nutmeg and cinnamon.
• The mixture will be very runny, not thick at all.
• Pour the egg mixture over the apricot/raisin mixture in the dish; sprinkle with a bit more nutmeg, then bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is puffed and golden (the puffiness goes down as it sits -- ).
• Serve warm.

CHAUX CLAFOUTI DE FRAISE DE BRANDIED

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Grease an 8x8 or similar sized pan with butter.
• Quarter the berries, and distribute them evenly in prepared pan.
• Combine the flour, salt & cornstarch in a small bowl.
• Whisk the sugar, vanilla, eggs, zest and juice of 1 key lime, milk and brandy in large bowl until light and frothy.
• Add dry ingredients to wet; whisk to combine thoroughly.
• Pour the batter over the berries, and place the dish on a cookie sheet. Bake for about 40 minutes, until just set. Cool to room temperature.
• Sprinkle the confectioners' sugar on top of the clafouti, and serve it at room temperature.