French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a dessert that’s as charming as it is simple, you’ve got to try this French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe. It’s like a cozy hug from the French countryside—with fresh peaches and blueberries nestled inside a tender, custard-like batter. Whether you’re serving it up for brunch or an easy evening treat, this recipe brings together fruit and batter in such a delightful way you won’t want to stop at one slice.
I love how versatile and forgiving this French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe is, perfect for using up whatever fresh fruit you have on hand. Plus, it comes together quickly with pantry staples, making it a go-to whenever you want a dessert that feels fancy but doesn’t demand hours of fussing. Trust me, once you make it, you’ll notice how the fruit’s sweetness seeps into that creamy batter, creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Ingredients: Uses everyday pantry staples plus fresh fruit for a classic, fresh flavor that shines.
- Custard-Like Texture: The egg and milk batter creates a soft, silky custard that’s satisfying and light.
- Versatile Fruit Options: You can swap in berries, stone fruit, or whatever’s ripe, keeping it seasonal and fresh.
- Easy to Make Ahead: Makes a great make-ahead dessert and tastes delicious warm or at room temperature.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients in this French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe harmonize perfectly, creating a luscious custard with just enough sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Here’s what I keep in mind when shopping for these components.
- Unsalted Butter: I love using melted butter to coat the skillet so the clafoutis doesn’t stick and gets a lovely golden crust.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs whip up fluffier batter, giving the clafoutis that signature airy custard texture.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a deeper sweetness than white sugar would, complementing the fruit beautifully.
- All-Purpose Flour: Just enough to set the batter—too much flour can make it dense, so I stick to the recipe’s amount carefully.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the fruit’s natural flavor.
- Whole Milk: Adds richness that makes the custard tender and creamy.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla adds warmth and depth, making the whole dessert feel comforting.
- Blueberries & Peaches: Fresh is best! I like to use perfectly ripe peaches and juicy blueberries to keep things bright and fresh—it’s the star of the French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe.
Make It Your Way
I like to mix things up based on what’s in season or what I have hanging out in my fridge. The beauty of this French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe is how flexible it is — you can personalize it with your favorite fruits or dietary tweaks without losing that delicious balance of custard and fruit.
- Variation: I’ve swapped in cherries or raspberries instead of peaches and blueberries, and it always tastes heavenly. Cherries are classic for clafoutis if you want to go traditional.
- Dairy-Free Version: Try using almond or oat milk in place of whole milk and coconut oil for butter; the texture shifts slightly but still tastes fantastic.
- Gluten-Free Twist: Using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well, just be careful not to overmix the batter to keep it light.
Step-by-Step: How I Make French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and brushing melted butter generously over a 9-inch cast iron skillet or deep pie pan. This step prevents sticking and adds a beautifully rich flavor to the edges. I always make sure to coat every nook—those buttery edges are the best part!
Step 2: Whip the Batter
In a bowl, beat the eggs with the brown sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and smooth—this usually takes a couple of minutes with a hand mixer or vigorous whisking. Gradually add in the flour, salt, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing gently until just combined. The trick here is not to overmix to keep your clafoutis tender and custardy.
Step 3: Add the Fruit and Bake
Pour the batter carefully into the buttered pan, then arrange your blueberries and peach slices gently on top. Don’t press the fruit down; letting them sit on the surface helps them roast beautifully and infuse the batter with their juices. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with only a few moist crumbs.
Step 4: Cool and Serve
Let your clafoutis cool for a few minutes — this dessert is best served warm but not piping hot. Dust with powdered sugar or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for that extra little touch. I find that with time, the flavors meld even more beautifully, so leftovers are actually a win.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Use Room Temp Eggs: This helps the batter get fluffier and bake evenly—cold eggs can make it dense.
- Don’t Press the Fruit: Let them sit naturally on top so they roast and keep their shape better.
- Rest Before Serving: Waiting 10 minutes after baking helps the custard set perfectly for neat, beautiful slices.
- Avoid Overbaking: Check at 45 minutes to prevent drying out — a little jiggle in the center means perfect doneness.
How to Serve French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream because it melts beautifully into the warm clafoutis. Sometimes a few fresh mint leaves add a pop of color and freshness without overpowering the delicate flavors. If you want to get fancy, a dollop of crème fraîche is a lovely French touch.
Side Dishes
This dessert pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee, a light herbal tea, or even a glass of chilled dessert wine if you’re celebrating. For a brunch spread, I like serving it alongside simple scrambled eggs or a mixed green salad to keep things balanced and fresh.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve baked this clafoutis in individual ramekins — it makes each serving feel personal and fancy. Another fun trick is layering slices of fruit decoratively on top before baking, which turns the dish into an edible work of art that’ll wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After cooling, I cover the clafoutis tightly with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It stores well for 2-3 days and tastes great cold or gently warmed up the next day.
Freezing
While I haven’t frozen this clafoutis myself often, I’ve heard freezing is possible if you wrap slices well and thaw slowly in the fridge. However, the texture of the custard might be slightly different after freezing, so I prefer enjoying it fresh or refrigerated.
Reheating
To reheat, I usually pop slices in a warm oven at about 300°F for 8-10 minutes or microwave briefly to avoid toughening the custard. Keeping it moist and tender while warming is key to maintaining that freshly baked feel.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen fruit for French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe?
Absolutely! Frozen fruit works well if you thaw and drain it first to avoid excess moisture, which can make the batter soggy. I recommend patting the fruit dry before placing it on the batter.
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What’s the difference between clafoutis and fruit cobbler?
Clafoutis is a French custard-batter dessert baked with fruit, resulting in a custardy, flan-like texture. Cobbler is typically a fruit base topped with a biscuit or cake-like batter. Both are delicious but have distinct textures and origins.
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Can I make this recipe vegan?
With some swaps, yes! Use a plant-based milk like almond or oat milk, replace eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg), and use vegan butter or coconut oil. Texture won’t be identical, but you’ll still get a tasty fruit custard.
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Why isn’t my clafoutis setting properly?
Make sure you bake it long enough but don’t overbake—it should jiggle slightly in the center. Also, ensure your flour measurement is accurate and eggs are at room temperature for the best custard set.
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What fruit works best in French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe?
Traditionally, cherries are used, but peaches, blueberries, raspberries, plums, and blackberries work wonderfully. Choose ripe and juicy fruits for the best flavor infusion into the batter.
Final Thoughts
This French Fruit Clafoutis Recipe holds a special place on my dessert list because it’s just so effortlessly elegant and comforting at once. It’s one of those recipes that feels like a cozy secret—simple to make but impressively delicious every time. I really encourage you to give it a go, even if you’ve never made anything quite like it before. You might just find you have a new favorite go-to dessert for sharing with friends or savoring on a quiet afternoon at home.
PrintFrench Fruit Clafoutis Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Description
This French Fruit Clafoutis is a delightful baked dessert featuring a light, fluffy batter studded with fresh blueberries and sliced peaches. Its golden top and custard-like interior make it perfect for an elegant yet easy-to-make summer treat, served warm and optionally dusted with powdered sugar or enhanced with a scoop of ice cream.
Ingredients
Batter Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit Topping
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 2 peaches, sliced
Optional for Serving
- Powdered sugar
- Ice cream
Instructions
- Prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Using a pastry brush, evenly spread the melted butter throughout a 9-inch cast iron skillet or a deep 9-inch pie pan, then set aside.
- Mix batter: In a bowl, whip the eggs and light brown sugar together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and smooth. Gradually incorporate the all-purpose flour, salt, whole milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until just combined.
- Combine and add fruit: Carefully pour the prepared batter into the buttered skillet. Gently arrange the blueberries and sliced peaches on top of the batter to evenly distribute the fruit.
- Bake the clafoutis: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 50 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Cool and serve: Allow the clafoutis to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar or serve warm with a scoop of ice cream for an extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use ripe peaches and fresh blueberries for the best flavor and texture.
- Cast iron skillet helps with even heat distribution but a deep pie pan works just as well.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- The clafoutis is best enjoyed slightly warm but can also be served at room temperature.
- To ensure a fluffy batter, do not overmix after adding flour.
- Adjust sugar amount based on the sweetness of your fruit.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg