Cherry Pastis

A succulent cake with a base of crispy puff pastry, filled with sweet cherries and a fragrant touch of ratafia.
Ingredients
Servings
8
Measurement units

Ingredients

  • puff pastry or shortcrust pastry
  • 500 gcherries
  • 200 mlratafia
  • 150 gsugar
  • 3 egg
  • 200 mlcream 35% fat
  • 1 cullvanilla extract
  • butter to grease the mold
Nutritional Information

Per serving

Calculated for 8 servings

Calories
485 kcal
Protein
6 g
Fat
22.8 g
Carbohydrates
52.9 g

Calculated from reviewed ingredient weights and pinned USDA FoodData Central records.

Step-by-step Guide

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC with heat from above and below.
  2. Line the mold with parchment paper and generously grease it with butter to prevent the cake from sticking.
  3. Remove the pits from the cherries, ensuring no pieces of the pit remain inside.
  4. Place the cherries, the ratafia, and half of the sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherries are tender and the ratafia has reduced to a thick syrup. Let it cool completely.
  5. In a large bowl, beat the whole eggs with the other half of the sugar until the mixture becomes whitish and frothy, about 5 minutes.
  6. Incorporate the cream and vanilla essence into the egg and sugar mixture, beating well until they are completely blended, resulting in a homogeneous cream.
  7. Place the pastry base into the prepared mold, and pour a layer of the cooled cherry syrup over it. Reserve some of the cherries and syrup for the final decoration.
  8. Next, pour the egg and cream mixture over the layer of cherries and syrup.
  9. Decorate the top with the reserved cherries and syrup, distributing them evenly.
  10. Bake at 180ºC for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is firm to the touch.
  11. Allow the cake to cool completely before unmolding and serving.
Recommendations & Tricks
  • Purchase a high-quality puff pastry or shortcrust pastry base to ensure a good result; choose one that includes butter among the ingredients for better flavor.
  • Pit the cherries before starting the recipe to save time and ensure no pits remain. Use a cherry pitter, or if you don't have one, a small skewer or a straw can be helpful.
  • Macerate the cherries with the ratafia for at least 30 minutes before starting the tart preparation so they absorb the flavors well.
  • Bring the cream to room temperature before mixing it with other ingredients to prevent it from curdling.
  • Grease the mold evenly with butter, using a pastry brush to prevent the tart from sticking after baking.
  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC with enough time before baking the tart to achieve even cooking and a well-crispy pastry.
Original recipe
View or download the original PDF document.
    Cherry Pastis | The Catalan Table