Ingredients - serves 4

10 ripe plums
1 tbsp melted butter
caster sugar
50g flaked almonds

4 thick slices brioche
100g butter
60g caster sugar
1 egg
50g ground almonds
1 tsp lemon juice
few drops of almond essence

Method

Pre heat the oven to 180°C
Cream the butter and sugar together to light and pale, beat in the egg and then add the ground almonds, almond essence and lemon juice. By now you have a thick, creamy paste that you can easily divide and spread liberally over the slices of brioche. Sit the slices on a baking tray.

Halve the plums and remove the stones. Brush with melted butter and roll them in caster sugar before sitting cut side down on the brioche slices. Finally scatter over the flaked almonds and transfer to the oven for 20-25 minutes. By this time the plums will be tender without losing their shape and the brioche should be golden brown.

Serve with thick cream.