Irish Tea Cake

Serve this simple and sweet dessert after a St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage feast. It goes well with a cup of tea, coffee, or milk.

Irish Tea Cake

Makes 8 generous slices

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter (softened to room temperature)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

1/4 cup powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round pan.

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated; stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack, then turn out onto a serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar right before serving.

Fruit Clafoutis

This French dessert presents fruit in a simple yet elegant way with a sturdy custard texture. Traditionally, it is made with cherries and baked in a ceramic dish. Baking it in a cast iron skillet adds a bit of crisp to the edges in a pie-like way. Any tender fruit can be used (e.g., grapes, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, or apricots). Just be sure to pit and slice any stone fruits.

Fruit Clafoutis

Makes one 10-inch pie with 8 servings

Ingredients

2 cups of sliced fresh fruit (e.g., cherries that are pitted and halved)

3 large eggs

1 cup of whole milk

3 tablespoons of butter, melted plus more to coat skillet

1 teaspoon of almond extract

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

3/4 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

1/2 cup of all-purpose flour plus more to dust skillet

1/8 teaspoon of salt

Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and lightly flour a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Scatter fruit over bottom of skillet.

Mix together wet ingredients (eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract) in a large mixing bowl.

Mix dry ingredients (sugar, brown sugar, flour, and salt) into batter.  Let batter rest for a few minutes after it’s mixed.

Pour batter slowly into skillet over fruit.  Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Place clafoutis on wire rack to cool to a warm temperature.  Slice into 8 pieces, dust with powdered sugar, and serve.