clafoutis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowspecialist / culinary
Quick answer
What does “clafoutis” mean?
A French baked dessert of fruit, traditionally black cherries, arranged in a dish and covered with a thick, flan-like batter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A French baked dessert of fruit, traditionally black cherries, arranged in a dish and covered with a thick, flan-like batter.
A rustic, home-style dessert from the Limousin region of France, characterized by its simple batter that sets around fresh fruit during baking, creating a texture between a custard and a cake.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; the word is a direct French loan in both varieties, used in the same culinary contexts.
Connotations
Conveys authenticity, rustic French charm, and a certain culinary sophistication in both cultures.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to greater historical and geographic proximity to France, but remains a low-frequency specialist term in both.
Grammar
How to Use “clafoutis” in a Sentence
[verb] a clafoutis[adjective] clafoutisclafoutis [preposition] [fruit]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clafoutis” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The clafoutis was served with a dollop of crème fraîche.
- Her grandmother's cherry clafoutis recipe is a family secret.
American English
- We ordered the pear clafoutis for dessert.
- The key to a good clafoutis is not overmixing the batter.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the business of restaurants, hospitality, or food publishing.
Academic
Rare, found primarily in cultural studies, gastronomy, or culinary history texts.
Everyday
Uncommon; used by home cooks interested in baking or discussing restaurant desserts.
Technical
Specific to professional culinary arts and pastry-making.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clafoutis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clafoutis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clafoutis”
- Misspelling: 'clafouti' (without the final 's').
- Mispronunciation: placing stress on the wrong syllable, e.g., /kləˈfuːtɪs/.
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly: 'two clafoutis' (preferable: 'two clafoutis' or 'two portions of clafoutis').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a singular, uncountable noun (like 'rice'). The word itself is singular in French and is typically treated as singular in English, though the final 's' can cause confusion.
Traditional clafoutis from the Limousin region uses black cherries, often left unpitted during baking to enhance flavour.
In British English, it is commonly /ˈklafʊtiː/. In American English, it is often /ˌklɑːfuˈtiː/. The French pronunciation is close to [klafuti].
Yes, while cherry is classic, versions with berries, peaches, pears, or plums are common. When made with fruit other than cherries, it is sometimes called a 'flaugnarde'.
A French baked dessert of fruit, traditionally black cherries, arranged in a dish and covered with a thick, flan-like batter.
Clafoutis is usually specialist / culinary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As French as clafoutis”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clumsy fairy (cla-fou-tis) dropping cherries into a baking dish, creating a messy but delicious dessert.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLAFOUTIS IS RUSTIC ELEGANCE (simple ingredients transformed into something greater).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a clafoutis?