Clafoutis aux Poires
While I enjoy making delicate profiteroles or a frosted cake, I’ve never been one to take myself too seriously when it comes to the details of pastry making. I much prefer effortless desserts like this clafoutis aux poires.
Clafoutis aux poires
I feel there’s a constant battle within me between my perfectionist tendencies and my impatient side.
The perfectionist in me demands frosted cakes be smoothly finished, while my lack of patience will hold me back from creating something as intricate as handmade meringue flowers for the top of the cake. I admire those of you who commit to the art greatly, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
That’s why French country cooking has always been my happy compromise. A dessert like this clafoutis aux poires delivers the elegance and beauty my perfectionist side seeks, and yet maintains the simplicity and ease that my impatient side is all too eager to take advantage of.
Clafoutis, in general, is a flan-like dessert whose origin lies in Limousin, France. The region is typical of French country living and sits south of Paris.
Originally, clafoutis was made with cherries, but now it’s been adapted to be made with plums, apples, or in this case, pears. I personally love a good pear clafoutis, or clafoutis aux poires, because you can usually find pears available at your local market year-round.
I also think this clafoutis aux poires is one of the best examples of French home baking vs. American home baking. The French don’t measure ingredients at home quite as precisely as Americans do, striving for ease rather than perfection.
Ironically, it’s that lack of effort that leads to the most perfect parts of their desserts. For example, look at the crispy, bruléed parts of this clafoutis. The first time I saw a home-baked French dessert, I thought maybe the host had left the dessert in the oven just a little too long. Then I noticed that this was a repeated trend among home bakers, not to mention an absolutely scrumptious one at that!
Those small “home-baked” touches are a marvelous thing because they are usually one of the best aspects of desserts like this.
I adapted this recipe by using Anjou pears, rather than Bartlett, as I find they hold up better in baking. You want the pears to be ripe, but that can be a bit tricky to decipher with the Anjou variety, as they don’t change colors when they ripen. Instead, gently press down near the neck of the pear, and if it slightly gives, it should be ready.
To really highlight the flavor of the pear in this clafoutis aux poires, I added some of my favorite spices: ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. The trio give this clafoutis the most sensational scent. I swear, if I could bottle this clafoutis’s fragrance up and sell it as my own personal perfume, I would! The scent is sweet, spicy, and warm, making this clafoutis smell just as good as it tastes.
The pears soften up, but not to the point where they’re mushy. Instead, they provide just the slightest bit of bite and texture against the bread pudding-like batter that surrounds it.
Most importantly, as the impatient part of me would point out, this clafoutis is a cinch to whip up, making it a wonderful dessert for an impromptu dinner gathering or lazy day off.
Clafoutis aux poires
A custard dessert made with warm spices like ginger and nutmeg, as well as sweet pears.
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup + 2 tsp sugar, divided
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp cognac or brandy
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large ripe Anjou pears
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Begin by whisking the eggs with the in the bowl of a stand mixer. Once the yolks are broken up, gradually stream in the 2/3 cup of sugar with the mixer speed on medium-low.
- Add in the flour, salt, cognac, heavy cream, whole milk, spices, and vanilla. Whisk for 2 to 3 minutes until combined and starting to foam.
- Let the batter rest in the bowl for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a 10-inch oven-safe pan by rubbing softened butter all over the inside of the pan. Add the 2 teaspoons of sugar and move the pan from side to side to evenly distribute the sugar along the inside of the pan.
- Peel, core, and cut the pears into 8 large wedges each. Place the pear wedges in the pan. Pour the batter over all the pears just until the batter reaches just about near the rim of the pan (about 1/2" to 3/4" below the rim).
- Bake the clafoutis for approximately 40 to 45 minutes until it's golden brown. If desired, turn on the broil setting for the last 2 to 3 minutes to get the top extra crispy and dark brown. Serve the clafoutis warm (not hot).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 6 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 269
That’s how I approach making pies and I always end up wishing baking and cooking was always like that. It’s so relaxing and I feel like it inspires more creativity. I always have such a hard time telling if pears are ripe so thanks or the tip. I can’t wait to try this and smell those smells!
Thanks so much, Megan! It’s so much more relaxing when we can just skimp on the measuring and go by feel and instinct – I totally agree with you. Hope you enjoy this one! <3
J’adore le clafoutis aux poires, c’est un de mes desserts favorites. Si gourmand et simple à la fois….tes photos sont extra !! xo
Merci beaucoup, Eva! Vous etes tres gentille! <3 C’est un de mes desserts favorites aussi!! XO
This reminds me of my mama’s cooking, which involves following a recipe ever so loosely – it is instinctual and goes more by texture and feel and taste than by the directions! Love the beautiful, spicy look of this dessert (and really, I think I could have it for dinner instead of dinner!)
Thank you, Kate! Yes, this is definitely one of "Mom’s" recipes! 😉 Since the amounts with the spices and cognac are so minimal, it really is easy to just add a sprinkle of this and a splash of that, you know? And I definitely ate this for dessert one night! 😉 XO
I am so with you on perfection and impatience! I love pretty desserts but no, I am not going to make meringue flowers or fondant decorations… 🙂 I’m also glad to hear that the French don’t measure as precisely as Americans, because I don’t either! I love the spices you chose to highlight the pears – it sounds like a delicious combination!
Thanks so much, Lexi! Good to hear there’s someone out there like me too! And you’re right, the spices work really well with the pears here! XO
I’m partial to this kind of elegant yet rustic dessert. I loved your phrase…"striving for ease rather than perfection" – yes! I love how the French approach food in general and that’s a wonderful way to put it.
I can almost smell the spicy sweetness of this and love those bruléed edges…don’t judge me if I top it with a dollop of loosely whipped cream. 🙂
Isn’t the French approach just so wonderful? I love their effortless approach at home <3 And I would never dare judge you for adding some whipped cream…I would simply plead for you to share with me too! Thank you sweets! <3
Your description of clafoutis makes me want to head to the kitchen and whip this up, posthaste! I’ve never had one before, but with the warming spices, pears and cream… oh my, how could I not? The addition of the spices and pears is so warming and cozy for this time of year. I can see how versatile this recipe is with the change of seasons and it’s delicious fruit and/or berries. I can imagine the texture of crust with the creamy, custardy interior of the clafoutis. So satisfying. Thank you for this Beeta. So fabulous!
Thanks so much, Traci! I’m so glad I’ve inspired your intrigue in this recipe…I really think you’d love the clafoutis! XO
Ah I just want a bowl of this dessert! I love how french home baking is so rustic and all about the taste (a world apart from the patisseries and croissants!). Do you think it would work well with stonefruit too? x
Thank you, Claudia! Yes this most definitely would work well with stone fruit! I love making it with plums 🙂