FRUIT GRATIN WITH CALVADOS AND MASCARPONE

Fruit Gratin with Calvados and Mascarpone image

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

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1 1/2 lb small (2 1/2-inch) Gala, Empire, or Golden Delicious apples
1 1/2 lb firm-ripe Seckel (9), Forelle (6), or Bartlett (3) pears
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup Calvados or Cognac
5 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
24 dried apricots (preferably California; 5 oz)
18 pitted prunes (dried plums; 7 oz)
6 (2- by 1/4-inch) strips fresh lemon zest
1 cup mascarpone cheese* (8 oz)
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
Special Equipment
a melon-ball cutter

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Halve apples lengthwise (quarter if large), leaving stem intact, and core halves with melon-ball cutter. Halve Seckel and Forelle pears or quarter Bartletts lengthwise, then core with melon-ball cutter and trim root ends.
Melt butter in a 14- by 9-inch oval gratin dish or other 2 1/2- to 3-quart shallow baking dish in middle of oven, about 2 minutes. Stir in Calvados and 3 tablespoons brown sugar, then add fresh and dried fruit and zest and turn gently to coat. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake in middle of oven, gently turning fruit and basting occasionally with juices, until apples and pears are tender but not falling apart, about 1 hour. Remove dish from oven.
Preheat broiler.
Spoon 1/3 cup baking juices from baking dish into a bowl and stir in mascarpone and remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Rearrange fruit, cut sides up, in baking dish to form an even layer, if necessary, and spoon mascarpone mixture over fruit. Put confectioners sugar in a fine-mesh sieve and sift over fruit. Broil gratin 3 inches from heat until confectioners sugar is caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes.
Available in Italian markets and many supermarkets.