Celebrate peak cherry season with a light, elegant dessert that combines fresh cherries and almonds in a custard-like batter. This Fresh Cherry Clafoutis is simple to prepare, not overly sweet, and ideal for a warm-weather family dinner or casual gathering.
Fresh Cherry Clafoutis – Light and Easy
There’s nothing like ripe cherries straight from the bowl, but baking them into a clafoutis is a lovely way to stretch the season and serve something special with minimal fuss. Unlike a pie, clafoutis requires fewer steps and less fuss while delivering a comforting, slightly custardy texture that showcases the fruit.
Because the batter is mainly eggs, milk, and a bit of flour with the cherries providing most of the sweetness, this dessert feels lighter than many other baked sweets. It reheats well and slices into satisfying portions for dessert or a late-summer brunch.
When I served this for a recent gathering before a move, it was a quick, low-stress option that everyone enjoyed. If you’re tracking points on a program like WW, this version calculated as 6 WW Blue points per serving.
What’s In My Fresh Cherry Clafoutis?
Most ingredients are pantry staples. The combination is straightforward and keeps the cherries front and center.
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- White sugar and a little brown sugar
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Slivered almonds
- Grand Marnier (or Amaretto, Cointreau, or 1 tsp almond extract)
- Fresh cherries, stemmed and pitted
- Powdered sugar for dusting
About the cherries: you’ll want them pitted. If you don’t own a cherry pitter, an easy method is to make a small crosswise cut in the bottom of the cherry, then push a blunt-ended utensil from the stem end to pop the pit out. A chopstick, the handle of a wooden spoon, or the blunt end of an electric beater works well.
How Do You Make My Fresh Cherry Clafoutis?
This clafoutis comes together quickly: arrange cherries and slivered almonds in a prepared baking dish, whisk a simple batter of eggs, milk, sugar, flour, and flavorings, then pour it over the fruit and bake until set and lightly golden.
The finished texture sits between a custard and a bread pudding—soft and homey with a slight bounce. Most of the flavor is from the cherries, while vanilla and the almond or orange liqueur add subtle complementary notes. If you like, a tablespoon of Grand Marnier adds a gentle orange brightness; Amaretto or a teaspoon of almond extract are fine substitutes.
Once baked and cooled slightly, dust the clafoutis with a little powdered sugar and serve warm or at room temperature. It pairs nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, though it’s delightful on its own.
Fresh Cherry Clafoutis
- Author: Marie Bostwick
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cherries, stemmed and pitted
- 3 tablespoons slivered almonds
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier (or substitute Amaretto, Cointreau, or 1 tsp almond extract)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly spray a shallow ceramic or glass baking dish with cooking spray. Scatter the slivered almonds evenly across the bottom, then spread the pitted cherries over them.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and both sugars until the mixture is slightly thickened.
- Sift the flour and salt into the egg mixture and whisk until smooth to form a thick batter.
- Add the milk, vanilla extract, and liqueur (or almond extract) and whisk until fully combined. The batter should be smooth and pourable.
- Pour the batter evenly over the cherries and almonds in the baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. The edges may puff and the center should be set; the top will be golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
This Fresh Cherry Clafoutis is an easy, elegant way to showcase summer cherries. It’s forgiving, quick to assemble, and perfect when you want a dessert that feels homemade without requiring a lot of hands-on time. Try it while cherries are at their peak and enjoy a simple, fruit-forward dessert your guests will remember.