Le Fraisier

Jana of Cherry Tea Cakes was our July Daring Bakers' host and she challenges us to make fresh fraisiers inspired by recipes written by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson in the beautiful cookbook Tartine.

This was another elegantly simple dessert to make. It is very pretty to serve and it is a delicious light cake with plenty of fresh summer fruit inside. Everyone who tasted my fraisier loved it! I'll definitely be making it again.

I had never heard of a fraisier before so I wasn't sure what I was in for. Turns out it is simply a chiffon cake filled with pastry cream and fresh fruit and topped with a thin layer of almond paste. I chose to fill mine with fresh blueberries and strawberries.

The only thing that I might do differently is skip the almond paste layer. While it made a beautiful smooth top the flavor was so strong that it completely overwhelmed the light and subtle lemon chiffon cake.

Overall I loved the look and the taste of this Daring Baker's Challenge, Le Fraisier.

To make your own fraisier go to http://www.thedaringkitchen.com/ for the recipe and helpful tips.