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Cherry-Almond Cobbler

My friend Cindy Meyers, who tested many of the recipes in this book and my two previous ones, wrote me, excitedly, that this dessert was her favorite of all that she tested. “The almond topping is so fluffy!” she commented. Considering she’s someone that I look to for criticism, when praise comes forth, I’m flattered.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Filling

6 cups (2 1/4 pounds/1 kg) sweet cherries, pitted
2 tablespoons (30 g) sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Topping

1 cup (140 g) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
7 ounces (200 g) almond paste, crumbled
1/3 cup (65 g) sugar
1/2 cup (4 ounces/115 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
1/2 cup (125 ml) whole milk

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

    Step 2

    To make the filling, in a shallow 2-quart (2-liter) baking dish, toss the pitted cherries with the 2 tablespoons (30 g) sugar and the lemon juice.

    Step 3

    To make the topping, in a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

    Step 4

    In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the almond paste and 1/3 cup (65 g) sugar on medium speed until the almond paste is broken into fine pieces. Beat in the butter, then the egg and vanilla or almond extract. Add half of the flour mixture, followed by the milk, then the remaining flour mixture, mixing just until combined.

    Step 5

    Spoon the batter evenly over the cherries in the baking dish. Bake until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the topping comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

  2. Serving

    Step 6

    Serve the cobbler warm or at room temperature with whipped cream (page 239), Vanilla Ice Cream (page 143), or White Chocolate–Ginger Ice Cream (page 149).

  3. Variations

    Step 7

    For MANGO, BLACKBERRY, AND ALMOND COBBLER; make a filling with 5 pounds (2.5 kg) mangoes, peeled, pitted, and cubed; 2 1/2 cups (12 ounces/340 g) blackberries; 2 tablespoons (30 g) packed light or dark brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; and the juice of 1 lemon. To make MIXED BERRY-ALMOND COBBLER; substitute 6 cups (about 1 3/4 pounds/795 g) mixed berries for the cherries. For CHERRY, APRICOT, AND ALMOND COBBLER; substitute 1 pound (450 g) apricots, pitted and cut into eighths, for half of the cherries.

Cover of David Lebovitz's Ready for Dessert featuring plates of cookies and a glass of milk.
Reprinted with permission from Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes, copyright 2010 by David Lebovitz. Published by Ten Speed Press. All Rights Reserved. Buy the full book at Amazon or Bookshop.
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