frangipane tart with brandied prunes

Frangipane is a sweet filling made with almonds. Here it’s paired with brandied prunes in a classic French combination. Soak your prunes in brandy for as long as possible or at least overnight. To make the pastry, place 180g (6⅓ oz) of flour in a food processor. Add 100g (3½ oz) of cold butter cut…… Continue reading frangipane tart with brandied prunes

chocolate and brandied prune terrine + walnut tuiles

Rich with dark chocolate and with a good hit of brandy, this was the perfect dessert for a French menu. The addition of a walnut tuile added some buttery crunch. I always keep a jar of brandied prunes – a jar filled with pitted prunes and topped up with brandy. The prunes taste better and…… Continue reading chocolate and brandied prune terrine + walnut tuiles

chocolate mousse with brandied prunes

Hervé This, a French physical chemist who pioneered molecular gastronomy, is responsible for a number of popular cooking techniques. Among them is this chocolate mousse (chantilly) made from only 2 ingredients: chocolate and water. To make brandied prunes simply place prunes into a glass jar, cover with brandy and wait – after a few months the brandy will infuse into…… Continue reading chocolate mousse with brandied prunes

chèvre ice cream with brandied figs

Homemade fresh chèvre in abundance led me to another wonderful ice cream flavour from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer. The flavour is delicate and delicious and the brandied figs are a great match. For the ice cream measure 2 cups of milk. Take out 2 tablespoons of the milk and make a slurry with 4 teaspoons of cornflour…… Continue reading chèvre ice cream with brandied figs

brandied prune dessert

Here’s a classic French dessert. When made with cherries you might recognise this as a clafoutis but it seems that flaugnarde is the correct name when made with other fruit. I’m not sure of the nomenclature when alcohol is involved. Brandied prunes are a staple here as they improve over weeks and months. If you want to make this sooner soak 1 cup of…… Continue reading brandied prune dessert