Our 15 best plum recipes
Katy Salter
Plum season heralds the transition from late summer to autumn. The plump stone fruits usually have a gentle sweetness and juicy but firm flesh which makes them a versatile addition to cakes and puds, as well as savoury dishes.
Plums are at their best from August to October. You’ll find them in different sizes and colours – yellow, red, deep purple – and varying degrees of tartness, so it’s worth growing (or sampling) a few varieties to discover which you like best. Plums are often on offer in the supermarket at this time of year, so pick up a few punnets and take a look through our best-ever plum recipes.
Got a plum glut on your hands? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered up our best-ever plum recipes. These seasonal recipes include plenty of cakes, bakes and puds. Plus, you’ll also discover both sweet and savoury plum preserves, salads, easy dinners and a few unexpected ideas…
Whether you’ve a surplus of common round plums, damsons, greengages or mirabelles, we think you’ll find recipes to love here.
This sophisticated update to trad raspberry ripple has ribbons of rich plum jam running through it, with extra ripple drizzled over the top for good measure.
Showcase ripe plums from your garden in this impressive brioche tart. The plums top a silky crème fraîche custard, which captures their sweet juices as the tart bakes.
Jam jars at the ready – it’s time to preserve some of that plum harvest. Plums, bramley apples and warming ginger combine for an autumnal chutney that’s perfect with pork and strong cheddar. Cheese sarnies just got an upgrade.
Chicken, plum and sweet spice traybake
Ripe plums add sticky sweetness to a chicken dinner. This simple traybake from Honey & Co’s Sarit Packer & Itamar Srulovich combines plums,coriander and fennel seeds to make an incredible marinade for chicken thighs.
You’ve heard of a rum baba – now meet the plum baba. Our take on the French dessert classic sees the little brioche cakes served with a rich plum syrup and roasted plums.
Plums make a wonderful addition to cakes and bakes. Take this versatile plum and almond sponge, for example. Cut into squares for a traybake, serve with proper homemade custard for a comforting pud, or freeze for cake-based emergencies.
Mozzarella, plum and burnt leek salad
Plums lend a tangy sweetness to this vibrant salad. Combine quick-pickled plums with creamy mozzarella, toasted hazelnuts, watercress and leeks for a celebration of late summer.
If you’ve got young children, you’ll know they can demolish a packet of pricey shop-bought fruit leathers in seconds. Try making your own healthy, homemade version with Olia Hercules’ recipe for fruit leather, known as tklapi in Georgia and the Caucasus region.
Spiced plum cake with Swiss meringue frosting
Plum cakes don’t have to be rustic, simple affairs. Make the late summer fruits the star of this celebration cake, ideal for birthdays and blanketed in airy Swiss meringue frosting.
Umeboshi is a popular Japanese pickle, often translated as ‘salted plums’ but actually made with the ume fruit. The result is a complex salty, sour pickle often served with rice. Ume are hard to get hold of in the UK, so try making this moreish preserve with small, firm British plums.
Fancy a sweeter preserve? Try our plum and vanilla jam. The aroma of ripe plums, cinnamon and vanilla bubbling away on the stove is better than any scented candle.
Rich meaty duck and sweet-sharp plums are made for each other. Combine the two with warming spices and sharp redcurrants and give the duck a long marinade for delicious results.
Nutty plum and sloe gin crumble
Crumble season is upon us. If you fancy a change from the more obvious blackberry and apple, try this grown-up ‘plumble’ with a generous slug of sloe gin.
Membrillo is a quince paste from Spain, where it’s a popular partner for Manchego. Try this Anglo-Spanish version – made with ripe plums – alongside strong cheeses and cold meats.
Move over, pineapple! Plums form the sticky, fruity inverted base of this moreish bake. Toasty hazelnuts and thyme-infused honey give the cake an earthy, autumnal edge. Serve with dollops of crème fraîche.
For more inspiration, find all our plum recipes in one handy place. Make the most of a hedgerow haul with 11 brilliant blackberry recipes, or plan for cosy season with our recipes to make you excited for autumn.
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