I don’t know about you, but I adore fresh plums. They taste so good and can be used in a variety of ways. When I get tired of eating plums fresh off of the tree, I typically prepare them in one of five ways. Here’s a quick look at each one:
Plum Inspired Cocktails
Believe it or not, plums combined with simple syrup, sparkling water and vodka make an amazing cocktail. For those that prefer gin or Grand Marnier, both work just as well as vodka.
Plums also make an excellent wine if you have the time to make your own. In order to make a gallon of plum wine, you’ll need a good four pounds of plums and plenty of patience.
Plum Butter
Have you ever enjoyed fresh plum butter on piping hot, homemade bread? I have and it’s absolutely delicious. It’s easy to make too. You’ll need one cup of sugar and one cup of spring water for every two cups of plums.
Start by cooking the plums in a sauce pan until they are mushy. Then add the sugar and continue to let it cook on the stove top until the consistency looks like butter. Once that’s done, continue by storing it inside mason jars like you would any other homemade preserve.
If you want to add to the plum butter’s flavor profile, you may want to consider experimenting with hibiscus powder, vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. In my experience, all three add a special zip to the final product.
Roasted Plums with Vanilla Ice Cream and Pound Cake
If you ask me, there is nothing like a bowl of vanilla ice cream and pound cake topped with roasted plums. In order to create the plum sauce, you’ll need orange juice, plums, sugar and freshly ground spices like nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon.
Start by slicing the plums and placing them into a glass baking dish. Then cover the plums with the orange juice, sugar and spice mixture. Next, cover the dish with foil and bake it in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes.
Once the plums are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool just a bit. While the plums are cooling, place a slice of pound cake and some vanilla ice cream into a bowl. Then ladle the roasted plums over both the ice cream and cake. Top it off with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and enjoy.
Plum Chutney
I would also recommend that you consider using your excess plums to create a big batch of plum chutney. Prepare the chutney like you would any other. I have found that it tastes wonderful when paired with grilled pork chops or grilled chicken. It also works well as a homemade hostess gift providing that you place it inside a decorative container.
No Bake Plum Cheesecake
Making a no bake plum cheesecake is another great way to make use of excess plums. In order to make one, you’ll need a box of no bake cheesecake mix, a ready-made graham cracker crust and some roasted plums.
Prepare the no bake cheesecake according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Just be sure to leave enough room for the plums. Once the cheesecake has been added to the crust, top it with the roasted plums. I would suggest adding the plums with the help of a slotted spoon. Otherwise, you may end up getting too much plum sauce on top of the cheesecake.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys summer sports and recreation with her family. She has a degree in hotel and restaurant management.
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