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House & Garden

Alice B. Toklas' Prunes with Cream

By James Beard

5.0

(1)

Miss Toklas frightens her readers when she says this dish takes four days to prepare. Actually, the labor involved is insignificant.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

3 dozen prunes (pitted, extra-large variety)
4 cups good red port
1 cup sugar
1 piece vanilla bean
Whipped cream
Macaroons
Candied violets

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Soak prunes for 24 hours in 2 cups port. Then add 2 more cups port, the sugar, and vanilla bean. Cook gently for about 1/2 hour. Cool and refrigerate for 3 days.

  2. Step 2

    To serve, put in a decorative bowl and cover with whipped cream. Sprinkle whipped cream with a thick layer of powdered macaroons and garnish with candied violets.

TagsDessertFruit DessertPortAlcoholBeveragesAmericanPruneDried FruitFruitNut FreeGluten FreeMake AheadEasyPickle & PreserveWinterHouse & Garden
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