When fresh plums are in season, a popular dish to make with this fruit is plum crumble, also known as plum crisp. This dessert somewhat resembles a cobbler, and has juicy fruit filling and a crunchy top. It is made by pitting fresh plums and then slicing them. After this, a mixture of sugar, brown sugar, flour, and butter is typically added to the top of the fruit before baking it in the oven. It can be served as a dessert for lunch, dinner, or as a light snack.
The first step in making plum crumble is to gather fresh plums. Around eight to 10 fruits are typically needed to make this dessert. Any variety of plum can be used, but selecting a sweet variety such as Black Beauty or Burgundy will result in a sweeter-tasting dish than if a tart variety is used. If a sweet plum variety is unavailable, more sugar could be added to the topping mixture to offset the bitter taste.
After gathering plums, a cook should then cut the fruits in half and remove the pits. They can then be chopped into small pieces and placed in a baking dish. Leaving fruit unpeeled will give the dessert texture, but some people may not like the taste of unpeeled plums, in which case removing them first is perfectly acceptable.
A mixture of sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, and flour is drizzled over the fresh plums before baking. Plum crumble typically takes anywhere from 40 to 45 minutes to bake when placed in a moderately warm oven. The end result should be a dessert that is lightly browned on the top and juicy and soft in the center.
Plum crumble should be allowed to cool slightly before being served because the filling can be extremely hot and may burn the mouth. It can also be eaten at room temperature, but does not normally taste good when chilled. Plum crisp can easily be microwaved if it is at room temperature.
This dessert may be served with a dollop of whipped cream or a small dip of vanilla ice cream, especially when eaten hot, but it is also delicious with no additional toppings. Plum crumble can be a refreshing summer treat, whether served as the final course of a meal or as a snack along with a cup of coffee. This dessert also keeps well, making it an ideal treat for family reunions or potluck dinners.
