Prunes in Armagnac
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 464
- Total Fat
- 8
- Saturated Fat
- 5
- Carbohydrates
- 76
- Dietary Fiber
- 6
- Sugar
- 55
- Protein
- 4
- Cholesterol
- 29
- Sodium
- 56
- Total: 6 hr 15 min (includes marinating time)
- Active: 15 min
Ingredients
3 spiced tea bags, such as Mariage Freres or Constant Comment
4 cups extra-large pitted prunes (18 to 20 ounces), such as Sunsweet Premium
1/3 cup honey, plus extra for serving
1 1/2 cups Armagnac, plus extra for serving
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (3 oranges)
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
2 lemons
2 pints honey vanilla ice cream, softened for serving
Directions
- Place 3 cups of water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags, add the prunes and honey, turn the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 3 minutes to plump the prunes.
- Pour the prunes and all the liquid into a medium bowl and stir in the Armagnac, vanilla, orange juice, vanilla bean, and cinnamon sticks. With a vegetable peeler, cut 4 large strips of zest from 1 lemon and add to the mixture. Cut the lemon in half, cut 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices, and add to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 6 to 12 hours. (If you're not serving the prunes that day, refrigerate them in their liquid.)
- To serve, place the prunes in shallow dessert bowls and serve cold, at room temperature, or slightly warmed, spooning the macerating liquid over them. Add a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of Armagnac, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of grated lemon zest. (You'll be surprised how much flavor this adds!) Serve immediately.