Clafoutis aux Poires – A Classic French Dessert My Way

Clafoutis aux poires or pears. A simple, basic dessert recipe made with fruit and custard-like creamy filling.

It is delicious any time of the day and a breeze to make. Fall is here, and the pears are at their peak, giving a very autumnal flair to this dessert.

But this is not your traditional clafoutis.

In this Article

What makes this dessert so different than your traditional clafoutis?

This year I am taking a different approach and started early with a spin on our classic French Clafoutis. I figure a large pan of deliciously soft pears marinated in brandy with a delightful custard around will last longer than a day.

Playing with flavors is one of the exciting components of cooking and baking.

Not only am I using pears instead of the traditional cherries with this recipe, but I am marinating the pears in brandy.

Brandy, to me, is fall in a bottle. I love the richness in flavor. The depth of color and how warm and wonderful it tastes added to my cooking.

I have been making it for so long, by “au pif ” as we say in France.

Your proverbial: by random or guesswork. A little bit more of this, a little bit less of that, but the result has been fantastic every time.

If you are unfamiliar with clafoutis, you are in for a treat.

What is a clafoutis?

A clafoutis is a classic French country dessert from the Limousin region near the center of France. This silky batter is poured over fresh fruits made using eggs, sugar, milk, and flour.

The batter bakes around the fruits creating a pudding-like texture, custard. Served lukewarm with a dusting of sugar.

The clafoutis recipe is too easy not to try it. A few staple ingredients easily found in your pantry, fruits, and you are ready to go.

The clafoutis will puff up when baking and offer you a golden top, yet, the inside will stay soft and creamy.

I am always tempted to serve it immediately after baking while it is still warm.

Traditionally, clafoutis is dusted with powdered sugar on top and served on a large oval dish.

A great sweet treat for a weekend dinner with family and friends.

Why pears?

Why limit this wonderful dessert to cherries and summer? I love pears, and they are the poster child of autumn. Our store shelves are abundant and need a place at the table.

Pick your favorite pear. Please ensure they are ripe but not too ripe to make your dessert watery. They have to hold during the baking process.

Slice them evenly to all bake perfectly.

Why Brandy?

Besides loving the richness of the flavor, brandy is a spirit distilled from wine and other types of fermented juices. It can be produced using grapes and fruits, such as apples.

The combination of the brandy with the fruits and the egg custard is perfect. Not overwhelming, but subtle.

Why marinate the pears?

Letting the brandy infuse the pears gives a deeper flavor to this already gourmand dessert.

At the same time, the pears are infused, and the brandy is infused too. As you will see with the recipe, you will add the brandy to the egg custard, making it rich in flavor.

Regarding your question about alcohol content, most of the alcohol is burned off during the baking process but still leaves a minute trace behind. I would not recommend it to the little ones.

Vanilla Sugar and how to make it

Having handy vanilla sugar is always a wonderful thing. It has so many uses. From coffee to dessert, a small jar is something we all should have in our pantry. Below is a quick video on how to.

You only need sugar and a vanilla bean pod that you will split. Remove the tiny black seeds and put everything together in a jar.

Shake and set aside. It stores well, and you will be amazed at how often you use it.

A short Video Tutorial on How To Make Vanilla Sugar. 

Baking tips and step-by-step instructions on how to make this fantastic recipe for Clafoutis Aux Poires

This is the easiest dessert you will ever make. Prepare all your ingredients, starting with the pears. While the pears are marinating, bring your eggs to room temperature.

• Peel, core, and slice your pears. Add them to a shallow or large bowl.
• Add the brandy over them and stir to coat all the pear wedges. Set aside for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Prepare the gratin dish with lots of butter and sugar. This will give a sweet crust to your custard.
• Prepare the custard by beating the eggs until frothy. Add the vanilla sugar and beat until the cream foams.
• Slowly add the flour, the heavy cream, and just a tiny pinch of salt.
• Drain the pears and add the brandy to the egg-cream mixture.
• Place your pears in your prepared gratin dish. Cover all corners by spreading them balanced in your dish.
• Pour the batter over it. Shake the gratin dish a couple of times to settle the batter.

Bake and enjoy!

Recipe variations and substitutions

The traditional clafoutis or clafoutis aux cerises , is made with black cherries. If you are using cherries and want to do it the French way, leave them whole but do let your family and guest know about it. You lose so much of the richness of cherry by removing the pits early on.

Add apples to your pears. Both fruits marinade beautifully with the brandy. I have made it both ways, and it was a success each time.

Brandy can be substituted with Whiskey. Same rich flavor.

Vanilla sugar can be substituted with liquid vanilla. Just a couple of drops will do.

Just remember that clafoutis is a simple and rustic dessert that does not need too much fuss.

Storage instructions

Store covered at room temperature for a couple of days or refrigerated tightly covered for up to four days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Originally published on December 5, 2016.