No. 205Recipe Card Posted on 2 Comments

Fig, Currant & Cognac Pudding

Bijouxs_com-figpudding

Fig, Currant & Cognac Pudding , a long title for an easy recipe. It is simply a pudding of baked crepe batter filled with Cognac soaked figs and currants. Yes, bring me some figgy pudding, and bring it right here! Sharing a little French gem from the collection for your holiday table.

Although this is not the traditional figgy pudding in the famous Christmas carol, it does leave me clamoring for more! This favorite recipe is adapted from one of my treasured cookbooks, The French Menu Cookbook by Richard Olney, 1970. This book, along with Olney’s Simple French Food, which will be re-issued next year in a special 40th Anniversary Edition, remain among my favorites. I was so inspired as a budding, new cook by this chef’s seasonal approach to French food, dedicated wine pairings and eloquent prose.

I have featured both clafouti and flaugnarde recipes previously at Bijouxs, and they provide the basis of this recipe as well. Both these simple French desserts begin with what you recognize as very thin crepe-like batter, that when baked, envelopes fruit in a semi-firm custard. The integral flavor component in this pudding recipe is cognac soaked fruit. Dried Mission figs and currants (see Cook’s Notes on recipe card) are set to soak in a simple Mason jar, taking a cognac bath for 6 to 7 hours. When it’s time to open the jar, one whiff will tell you this recipe is going be great. Trust me, one whiff.

Fig, Currant and Cognac Pudding is a charmingly informal dessert, packed with the traditional dried fruit flavors of the holiday season. A flaugnarde is a dessert best described by Richard Olney, “Its simple honesty rarely fails to seduce.” It is a delicate custard, most enjoyably served at its flavor peak, still warm from the oven. Both the batter and the fruit are prepped ahead, simply assemble, then bake just as you sit down to dinner. Serve directly from the pan, either in slices or spoon informally on to plates. Add freshly whipped cream and perhaps a sprinkle of a warming spice mix.

Wishing all of you the Merriest Christmas and Happiest of Holidays from Bijouxs!

As always, enjoy. B

2 thoughts on “Fig, Currant & Cognac Pudding

  1. I’d give this a try. Though figgy pudding in the traditional sense usually sends me running. Happy New Year. XOGREG

    1. Yes, me too! But this ‘figgy’ pudding is the cousin of clafouti, instead of cherries, using brandy soaked figs and raisins–a figgy pudding to love. Happy New Year Greg!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.