Is it a pie? Is it a pudding? Is it a cake? No, it’s clafoutis. Or maybe it should be called a flaugnarde since it doesn’t have cherries in it as a dignified clafoutis would. This baked custard contains apples (preferably from Normandy) with a dash of Calvados (if you have it). Simple but perfect.

First, whiz the pie crust ingredients in a food processor and roll out. Or, you can skip this whole step and make a baked custard instead.

Then, slice and bake the apples until golden.

Finally, whisk the custard ingredients and assemble the dessert. Bake at 375° for about 30 minutes. Check it earlier if you’re making individual servings. The custard is cooked when the point of a knife comes out clean.

Recipe for Clafoutis Normand (Apple and Cream Tart)

Serves 6


Pâté Brisée Sucrée
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cake flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Pinch salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 egg, lightly beaten, for glazing

Baked Apples
3 apples (preferably Golden Delicious)
1 lemon, halved
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon Clavados (I left this out)
1 tablespoon sugar

Custard
1 egg yolk
2 eggs
¼ cup sugar
1 ounce fine-ground almonds (about ¼ cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup crème fraîche or heavy cream

You can find the recipe for Clafoutis Normand (Apple and Cream Tart) in the book Le Cordon Bleu at Home.

Tasting Notes
I love pudding, so this dessert is in my "make-again" pile. I made it both with a pie crust and without (since I ran out of leftover pastry). The crust gave it some texture, but I prefer the baked custard version, even though it was a touch darker than it should have been.

Bucket List
Pick an apple in Normandy

More Clafoutis
• No Special Effects: Tartine's Cherry Clafoutis (Clafoutis aux Cerises)
• Cooking with Amy: Julia Child's Clafouti Recipe
• Gastronomer's Guide: Plum Flognarde
• Nourished Kitchen: Flaugnarde with Roasted Berries

Next Time
Crème chantilly, Crème pâtissière, Crème anglaise, Crème bavaroise
(Whipped cream, pastry cream, Bavarian cream)

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