Stewed Plums

Stewed plums with cinnamon, perfect to serve with pancakes, porridge or granola, over cheesecakes or ice cream. Just a few ingredients but so much flavor.

These stewed plums are incredible. Only the fruit, a little sugar, and spices and you will have a delicious and versatile dessert ready in just about 15-20 minutes. Soft, tart plums poached in a slightly sweet sauce, flavored with cinnamon and star anise.

What do you need?

Plums: Either regular round ones or smaller and darker Italian plums. I used the Italian this time because I got a huge bucket full of them last week. I canned plums, made Zwetschgenkuchen, and ate lots and lots of them fresh.

Spices: cinnamon and star anise. I am such a star anise fan lately, I put it in most of my canned fruit or fruit dessert recipes, it has an amazing flavor. Try these cherries in syrup or these red wine cherries, for instance.

Sweetener:

• Not too much. I used to take more sugar when stewing plums before, but I definitely like the less-sugar version. The dessert is slightly sweet, yet it retains the tartness and flavor of the fruit, you will not have just a sweet dessert but really taste the plums.
• The amount also depends on the ripeness/sweetness of the fruit. Check one plum before you add the sugar and decide if it is sweet enough or not.

Alternative to sugar:

• I often use xylitol or stevia. Xylitol can usually be used just like sugar, the same amount.
• When it comes to stevia it can differ. Please check the package instructions on that.
• Honey, agave or maple syrup are also great. Add to taste.

Variations

• You could replace half the water with red wine or mulled wine.
• You could also replace half of it with orange or apple juice.
• Add a piece of ginger, vanilla or 1-2 cardamom pods for a different flavor.

How to stew plums?

• Wash, halve and stone the fruit.
• Place the water, lemon juice, cinnamon, star anise, sugar (or sugar alternative) in a large saucepan.
• Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Add the fruit and simmer gently for about 7-8 minutes until soft, but not mushy.
• Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Tip

The cooking time depends on the ripeness of the fruit. Soft, ripe Italian plums need about 7-8 minutes, while larger and firmer ones will need slightly longer. Just check, it is really easy to decide if they are done to your liking or not.

How to use the plums?

Dessert:

• Just as they are.
• With a dollop of Greek, strained yogurt or whipped cream on top.
• Serve with ice cream, rice pudding or custard, over cheesecakes or sweet loaves of bread.
• Top with granola.

Breakfast:

• Serve with pancakes, crepes or waffles.
• I often have the leftovers mixed with muesli or over porridge.

How to store?

The leftover stewed plums keep well in an airtight container in the fridge. They will be perfectly fine for at least 4-5 days.

You can also freeze them for up to three months.

More stewed or roasted fruit:

• Roasted Cherries
• Roasted Pears
• Honey Pears
• Peach Compote
• Stewed Apple Cake
• Stewed Apple Dessert
• Stewed Rhubarb