Sweet Dark Cherry Clafoutis

Use a 7-cup baking dish. Serves 6-8 (or 2!)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups heavy cream

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar (plus 2 Tbsp to mix with the pitted cherries)

• 3 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla paste

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

• 3 cups pitted dark cherries

• Dash of chili powder

• Dusting of confectioner’s sugar to finish

1)     Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2)     Lightly spray your chosen baking dish with cooking spray.

3)     In a large bowl, gently whisk (you are going for minimal air bubbles) the cream, flour, 1/3 cup of sugar, eggs, vanilla paste, salt and nutmeg. Let this mixture stand for ten minutes to release any created air bubbles.

4)     Pour some of the custard batter into the prepared pan to ¼ inch. Set aside the remaining batter.

5)     Bake for ten minutes.

6)     While the clafoutis completes its first bake, toss the pitted cherries with the 2 Tbsp sugar and the dash of chili powder.

7)     Remove the pan from the oven. Scatter the cherries over the top. Gently stir the remaining custard batter and pour over the cherries.

8)     Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional thirty minutes until the custard is set in the center.  Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least twenty minutes before serving.  If desired, dust the clafoutis with confectioner’s sugar before serving.