Almond Bavarois with Roasted Rhubarb

Susan, AKA Kiwicook
Susan, AKA Kiwicook

Susan, AKA Kiwicook

In her days as a recipe developer, Susan has created over 450 recipes. Her Dutch and New Zealander roots serve as a basis for her culinary inspiration.

Last updated:

Some of our posts contain affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may receive compensation - at no cost to you.

ALMOND BAVAROIS WITH ROASTED RHUBARB

Whoever invented this delightful satiny dessert known as Bavarois, or Bavarian Cream, really deserves a pat on the back. Not that we’re ever likely to find out who that is – they can’t even decide whether it originated in France, Bavaria, Switzerland or Germany. Who cares? All I know is how darned good it is!

This delicious concoction is, in essence, a custard combined with whipped cream and set with gelatin. It’s velvety and firm, and rather more mousse-like than a typical baked custard. It also looks a picture sitting on a serving plate.

I found this scrumptious recipe on Delicious Magazine.co.uk. The recipe made four servings, but I wanted at least five to six, so scaled up the bavarois portion of the recipe. It made five good-sized portions, though you could easily make six in smaller ramekins.

The result? The custard was thick and creamy and subtly flavoured with almond. I reckon, if you were short on time, you could simply use commercial almond milk – I’ll probably give that a try next time around. The almond praline is sinfully moreish and you’ll have plenty of it left over for other uses. And, the rhubarb is a really nice tart contrast to the sweet custard. One thing I will say though is that the rhubarb syrup was WAY too sweet, so I’ve cut back the sugar by half.

This delectable dessert, with its perfect blend of sweet and tart, creamy and crunchy, would make a fab show-stopper dessert to serve at the end of a great meal. Enjoy!

ALMOND BAVAROIS WITH ROASTED RHUBARB 2
ALMOND BAVAROIS WITH ROASTED RHUBARB

ALMOND BAVAROIS WITH ROASTED RHUBARB

Enjoy the vibrant flavors of spring rhubarb! Creamy almond bavarois pairs perfectly with tender, tangy roasted rhubarb. Topped with a sprinkle of almond praline for a touch of crunch, it's a sophisticated treat for any occasion. The bavarois can be made a day in advance for easy entertaining. Try other nuts in the praline for a different flavor.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Resting Time 6 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 692 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the bavarois:

  • 7.9 oz blanched almonds
  • 18.6 fl oz whole milk
  • 4 large free-range egg yolks
  • 4.4 oz caster sugar (superfine sugar)
  • About 3 gelatine leaves* (I used Equagold Gold Grade Gelatine leaves)
  • 7.6 fl oz double cream

For the poached rhubarb:

  • 14.1 oz about 2 bunches rhubarb, cut into 5cm pieces
  • Pared zest 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup caster sugar (superfine sugar)

For the praline**:

  • 1/2 cup caster sugar (superfine sugar)
  • 1.7 oz blanched almonds

Instructions
 

For the bavarois: (Can make the day ahead)

  • Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Spread the almonds over a baking tray and toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool a little, then finely chop and put in a saucepan with the milk. Heat until the milk just starts to boil, then set aside to infuse for 4-6 hours or overnight.
  • When the milk has taken on the flavour of the almonds, strain it into a measuring jug (you can save the almonds for smoothies); the quantity of milk will have reduced and from what remains, you’ll need 340ml (11.5 fl oz) milk.
  • Put the egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof mixing bowl, then beat with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  • Heat the 340ml (11.5 fl oz) milk until steaming, then pour into the bowl, stirring as you add it.
  • Half fill a roasting tin with cold water and ice cubes.
  • Put the gelatine in a small bowl and cover with cold water.
  • Return the egg and milk mixture to the cleaned saucepan and heat gently for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and lightly coats the back of a spoon. It should gently steam, but not boil. Remove the custard from the heat.
  • Squeeze out any excess water from the gelatine leaves, then stir them through the custard until completely melted. Strain through a sieve into a mixing bowl.
  • Put the bowl in the water-and-ice filled roasting tin and gently stir with a spatula until thickened – it should stay parted for a second when you draw your spatula through it.
  • Put the double cream in a larger mixing bowl and whip until it forms soft peaks. Gently fold through the custard with a metal spoon or spatula until combined. Divide the mixture equally among the moulds, cover each with cling film (not touching the surface) and chill for 4-6 hours until set, or overnight.

For the rhubarb:

  • Heat the oven to 110°C (230°F). Arrange the rhubarb pieces in a large shallow roasting tray. Scatter over the lemon zest and sugar along with a splash of water. Cover the tin tightly with foil and bake for 1½ hours.
  • Remove the rhubarb from the oven, uncover and carefully pour the juices into a small pan. Bubble for 5-6 minutes until syrupy. Leave to cool, then pour back over the rhubarb. Chill until needed.

For the praline: (Can make well ahead)

  • Gently heat the sugar in a frying pan until melted, then boil without stirring. While it’s boiling, scatter the 50g almonds in a baking tray lined with baking paper, then tip the caramel over them as soon as it’s a golden-reddish brown. Leave the almond praline to cool completely. Pulse in a food processor (or finely chop with a large, sharp knife) to a coarse powder. If making ahead store in a sealed container and store in a dry place (don’t place in fridge).

To serve:

  • Take the bavarois out of the fridge 30 minutes before unmoulding. Run a thin knife inside the edge of each mould, and/or dip briefly in hot water, then invert the bavarois sharply onto serving plates. Serve with the rhubarb, rhubarb syrup and a dusting of praline.

Notes

*If you’re not feeling confident about unmoulding the dessert, you can simply set and serve it in pretty serving glasses.
**You’ll have lots of praline left over. Simply store in a sealed container in a dry place (not the fridge) for future use.

Nutrition

Calories: 692kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 16gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 184mgSodium: 64mgPotassium: 683mgFiber: 6gSugar: 57gVitamin A: 952IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 322mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Almond Bavarois Roasted Rhubarb, Custard
Tried this recipe?Let us know how if you liked it in the comments below!

Did you find this post useful?

Give it a star rating and let us know!

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Recommended Posts
Susan, AKA Kiwicook
About The Author
Susan, also known as the Kiwi Cook, hails from Levin, New Zealand, and has a unique Kiwi-Dutch-British heritage that influenced her culinary upbringing. As an artist, tutor, writer, and editor, Susan dedicates her weekends to creating delectable dishes. Her food philosophy embraces moderation and listening to her body's needs.

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.