Life is a Bowl of Cherries a Recipe for Clafoutis from Provence
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Dessert · Flans, Puddings · Provencal Recipes · TasteSpring starts early in the south of France. Nutmeg was shocked to learn that the cherries on the neighbours’ tree would be ready to eat by the middle of May! Under perfect conditions, local BC cherries only start arriving in Calgary farmers markets in mid-July. Sure enough the white flowering trees quickly turned to producing the luscious red fruit, and all of a sudden the orchards were laden with produce.
…Continue reading here for Nutmeg’s introduction to Clafoutis aux Cerises, an easy flan-style dessert that is a perfect way to use up a bounty of cherries. You can also make this with a variety of other seasonal fruit. It’s equally good with pears, grapes (seeded), plums, or peaches.

Clafoutis aux Cerises
A clafoutis is a very easy recipe to make. You leave the cherry pits in the fruit, otherwise they will change the colour of the desert.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 pounds cherries ripe, washed
- 5 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup crème fraîche or heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup flour
- 2 tbsp vanilla sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- butter to coat the pan
- sugar to coat the pan
Instructions
- Butter the pan (preference is in clay but a glass dish will work)
- Coat with a bit of sugar and discard the excess
- Remove the stocks from the cherries (not the pits) and place them in the pan
- Mix all the other ingredients (eggs, milk, crème fraîche, sugar, flour, vanilla sugar) and pour over the cherries
- Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes
- Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and bake for another 10 minutes until golden brown
- Sprinkle sugar on the top when you remove it from the oven.
Notes
Use vanilla sugar as extract will change the colour of the clafoutis.Make sure to warn your guests that the cherries are not pitted.The great thing about this recipe is you can use other fruit in season such as: apricots, grapes, pears.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Related Provence Articles
Recipe for Clafoutis aux Cerises from Provence
April 20, 2015
This dessert originates from the Limousin region of France but is often seen on Provencal menus. The beauty of this easy dessert is that it can be prepared with almost any fruit, although strawberries are not recommended. The traditional version is made with whole cherries (not pitted); otherwise, the juice will change the colour of …
Tian aux Fruits Baked Fruit in Almond Crust from Provence
September 17, 2014
This classic Provençal dessert, called tian aux fruit, is made with seasonal fruits. It resembles a crumble, although the fruit is baked with an almond crust. Tian is also a traditional clay pottery dish from Provence. Beautiful variations can be found in local markets, although a few potteries make the traditional variety. A glass baking …
Savoury Tart Recipe: Courgette and Parma Ham
November 2, 2016
The freshness of the season's first courgettes married with the saltiness of the parma ham and parmesan cheese, baked to perfection in a fluffy egg delight on a flaky round of puff pastry.…
Quiche Basics: Mastering the French Classic
June 4, 2021
Although not typically Provencal, quiche is definitely French. You find variations of this savoury tart in most bakeries, grocery stores and many lunch menus. The Quiche Lorraine is indeed the classic version, originating from the northeastern region of France. Any quiche recipe starts with eggs, cream, and (usually) cheese. After that, the sky is the …
No Comment