Two dishes of coconut fig clafoutis sit on individual plates, with spoons at the ready, and fresh figs for extra garnish.

Clafoutis with Coconuts and Figs

This sweet dish contains warm custard, soft figs, and just the right amount of coconut added in multiple ways. You can’t go wrong with these little individual tasty treats!

Two dishes of coconut fig clafoutis sit on individual plates, with spoons at the ready, and fresh figs for extra garnish.
Clafoutis with Coconuts and Figs

I grew up learning how to cook from a legend, although I didn’t really know it at the time. This Clafoutis recipe, filled with the fresh Californian figs of my present and the delicious coconut of my past, embodies everything that Julia Child meant to me and so many like me.

Two dishes of coconut fig clafoutis sit on individual plates, with spoons at the ready, and fresh figs for extra garnish.

The Past

I never liked sitting at a desk. I ignored the teachers and I ignored my parents. But I never ignored my homework. I just liked doing it at the piano bench.

It was probably an odd sight, if you were to go back in time to my home in New York, in the little living room where the upright piano anchored one wall. I claimed the piano bench every afternoon — it was my favorite little spot, and I would teeter on the balls of my feet as I worked on language arts and math. Maybe I liked it because I loved tracing the dark wood grain, maybe I liked it because I liked to imagine it was an antique desk, maybe I liked it because with one quick glance, I could see what my mom was cooking up in the kitchen. Or maybe it was for the company.

Julia joined me on many afternoons in that living room. As my number two pencil moved efficiently through my workbooks (you see, despite not being at a proper desk, I was, without a doubt, very good at finishing my homework), her bubbly and endearing nasal chuckle would echo through my television set. She would debone a chicken while I figured out fractions. She would frost a cake while I analyzed sentence structures.

A small blue rectangular dish has fresh fig slices, and a smaller blue dish full of toasted coconut.

She was, perhaps, my first teacher in cooking, even before my mother. Little did I know that while I was working on academics, she was teaching me, too, leaving an indelible mark. Long before I knew what Clafoutis was, I just thought that she was an entertaining lady.

The cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child.

The Present

It wasn’t until adulthood that I picked up a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but when I cooked my first dish from that book, I felt her presence as I seared my chicken and stirred the mushroom sauce. And I know I am not alone in feeling as though I have a guardian angel in the kitchen when I work from her book.

So, as the world celebrates Julia Child’s legacy on what would have been her 100th birthday, I must raise my glass as well. Thank you, Julia, for those afternoons. Thank you for doing homework with me. Thank you for being a teacher.

A clafoutis ready to eat.

To celebrate, I made Coconut Fig Clafoutis. It is rustic and custardy, and I do believe Julia would be happy to sink her spoon into one. I hope you do, too.

Recipes Starring Coconut

Cherry Coconut Cobbler
Coconut Ube Rolls
Zucchini Coconut Coffee Cake
Mocha Coconut Granola

Recipes Focusing on Soft and Sweet

Coconut Custard Tart with Chocolate Ganache
Rhubarb Bread Pudding
Custard Cake
Coconut Leche Flan

Coconut Fig Clafoutis

What I loved best about Julia Child was how she embraced French cooking – both the complex and the rustic – with her sensibility. I felt inspired to make my version of her Clafoutis. It combines the sensibility of the rustic French custard cake with my beloved Californian figs and the coconuts of my roots. I can only hope that she would approve.
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 248kcal

Ingredients

Clafoutis Ingredients

  • 1 lb fresh figs trimmed and quartered
  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar optional, if fruit is not sweet

Coconut Sugar Topping Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut flakes
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In the jar of the blender, place the coconut milk, heavy cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, and flour (Julia recommends following this precise order). Blend at high speed for 1 minute. Strain into a bowl or pitcher and set in the refrigerator while preparing the ramekin dishes. This can also be done the night before.
  • Butter 6-8 ramekin dishes and place on a baking sheet. Pour a little batter into each (about 1/2 inch) and place into oven for about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, and arrange the figs in each ramekin, sprinkle a little sugar on the fruit, then pour remaining batter over the figs.
  • Return the ramekins into the oven and bake for about 35 minutes, or until the clafoutis has puffed and turned a golden brown.
  • Meanwhile, toast the coconut flakes in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently. When the coconut is golden, stir in the sugar and set aside.
  • Remove from oven. The clafoutis will collapse. Sprinkle coconut sugar over each and serve while warm.

Notes

Adapted from Clafoutis, Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Child, Bertholle & Beck, 1961).

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 86mg | Potassium: 201mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 279IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante

Comments

Recipe Rating




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  1. Jean

    I had my favorite spot to do homework, too, though it wasn’t the piano bench (I took lessons also). Similarly, I remember sounds from the TV in the background though they were probably more from the kids from the Brady Bunch rather than Julia Child. She was indeed an entertaining lady though I was introduced to her a little later than you were. What a perfect dish for such sweet memories. :)

    Reply
  2. Beth Michelle

    I remember watching Julia with my mom. We would very much enjoy those afternoons with her. These coconut fig clafoutis are just beautiful and would make Julia proud Im sure :)

    Reply
  3. Katerina

    This is such a perfect post dedicated to Julia Child! Figs are now in season here in Greece and this clafoutis sounds like the perfect thing to use them on!

    Reply
  4. Sandra's Easy Cooking

    Such a touching post…I didn’t grow up watching Julia but I sure loved it 14 years ago when i saw her face on the Tv.
    Recipe that you picked, well …it has everything that I really love especially figs and coconuts…This look as it sounds “perfect”!!!!! Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  5. Mary@siftingfocus.com

    Liren, what a lovely tribute and a charming childhood story. I can just picture the scene – and I’m not at all surprised that you were dedicated to your homework. This recipe sounds divine! Simple enough for everyday but elegant enough for a dinner party.

    Reply
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