Gâteau basque, compote de prunes

This is a traditional dessert from my Basque neighbours in the south-west and one you won’t fail to stumble upon if you visit the region – it’s as classic as a baguette. When it’s good and properly done, a gâteau basque is beautiful: crisp, biscuity pastry made from ground almonds and lightly flavoured with rum encases either a soft almond or vanilla cream or a dark cherry jam – or sometimes a mixture of the two. I like the plainest version; there’s something soothing about its simplicity b