Best Plum Butter Recipes

PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Place plums in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover the bottom of stockpot; cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until plums are broken down, about 2 hours. Remove stockpot from heat and cool for 2 hours.
• Return stockpot to stovetop over low heat; cook gently for 2 to 3 hours. Remove from heat and keep at room temperature, 8 hours to overnight.
• Cook plums over low heat, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours. Remove from heat and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
• Bring plums to a boil; add sugar, lower heat, and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack plum butter into hot jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Split plums in half, remove pits, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Do not peel. Place in a 6-quart nonreactive saucepan, and add 1 cup water and the sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook until fruit is very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; puree fruit and liquid in a food mill or food processor.
• Rinse saucepan and return puree to pan along with cardamom and cinnamon. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until thick enough to spread, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

BROWNED BUTTER-PLUM MUFFINS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until light golden brown. Remove from heat; stir in plums and cardamom. Cool completely.
• In large bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups flour, the granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, vanilla and eggs just until moistened. Gently stir in plum mixture. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
• In small bowl, mix brown sugar, walnuts and 1/4 cup butter. Stir in 1/3 cup flour with fork until crumbly. Sprinkle topping evenly over batter.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Serve warm or cool.

OLD FASHIONED PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash plums thoroughly and place in a large pot with enough water to BARELY cover fruit.
• Simmer uncovered, until soft, about 3 hours.
• Press through a strainer.
• Add sugar and cider and cook for about an hour or until thick.
• Seal in hot, sterilized jars and process in a boiling water bath for ten minutes.
• **Plum butter thickens by evaporative cooking. If mixture seem thin, there's likely a little too much water in the mixture. Make sure that you're cooking it with the lid off, stir frequently, and continue cooking until it thickens to your preference. You'll be able to speed up the process if you increase the surface area of the plum butter by transferring it to a wider pan, maybe a skillet. Don't increase the heat -- you'll be taking a chance of scorching it.

MICROWAVE PEACH PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine peaches, plums, and water in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl. Heat in the microwave on high in 3 minute intervals, stirring between heating, until mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon, ginger, and sweetener. Pour fruit butter into a jar. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

PRUNE PLUM AND WALNUT BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with 1 tablespoon of the butter and dust it with 1 tablespoon of the flour.
• Toss the plums with 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the brandy; set aside.
• Cream the remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a large bowl with 1 cup of the sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Sift the remaining 1 cup flour, baking powder, and salt together and beat into the creamed butter.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until they start to foam. Do not over beat, or the cake will be tough. Add the eggs and ground walnuts to the flour and butter mixture. Mix well.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the plums on top in rings. Sprinkle with any remaining brandy-sugar syrup and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake for 1 hour, or until the cake is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the cake (not the plums) comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing the sides of the springform pan and serving. Garnish with a dusting of confectioners' sugar.

CRAB CAKES WITH LEMON BUTTER AND PLUM TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• For Salsa:.
• Mix all ingredients in bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.).
• For Crab Cakes: Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic; saute until tender about 3 minutes.
• Mix Worcestershire sauce , cayenne, and then breadcrumbs.
• Saute 2 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat. Mix in crabmeat and green onions.
• Season with salt and pepper; mix in eggs.
• Using about 1/3 cup for each, shape mixture into 16 3/4" crab cakes.
• Arrange on baking sheet.
• Lemon Butter: Mix first 4 ingredients in medium skillet.
• Boil over medium heat until reduced to glaze, about 2 minutes.
• Discard bay leaf.
• Add 1 cup butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking until melted before adding next piece (occasionally remove from heat to prevent boiling).
• Whisk in cream; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.).
• Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in each of 2 heavy large skilets over medium heat.
• Add half of crab cakes to each skillet.
• Saute until cooked through and golden, about 5 minutes per side.
• Rewarm lemon butter over low heat, whisking often (do not boil). Divide among 8 plates. Arrange 2 crab ccakes on each plate. Top with salsa.

TRULY BRITISH BRANDY BUTTER: FOR FESTIVE FIGGY AND PLUM PUDDING!

Steps:

• Place the butter and sugar in a medium size bowl and whisk together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the brandy a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Place in a container and chill.
• Delicious served over hot mince pies or Christmas pudding.

PLUM BUTTER BREAD

Steps:

• For plum butter, in a saucepan combine plums, water, and lemon juice; bring to boiling then reduce heat.
• Simmer, covered, 40 minutes. remove from heat; stir in honey.
• Cool, place in a food processor bowl and process until smooth.
• Cover and set aside.
• In a bowl stir together 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, yeast, and cardamom.
• Heat milk, 1/2 cup butter, sugar, and salt until warm (120 degree F to 130 degree F).
• Add to flour mixture along with eggs and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds.
• Beat on high speed 3 minutes.
• Stir in whole wheat flour and as much remaining all-purpose flour as you can.
• On a floured surface, knead in enough remaining all-purpose flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (about 6 to 8 minutes). Place in a greased bowl, cover; let rise until double (about 1 hour).
• Turn out onto a floured surface, divide in half.
• Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
• Roll each half into a 12x7-inch rectangle and spread each with 1/2 cup of the plum butter to within 1 inch of edges.
• Sprinkle with nuts and cinnamon.
• Roll up; seal and place loaves, seam down, in two greased 8x4x2-inch loaf pans.
• Cover; let rise until nearly double (30 to 45 minutes).
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped.
• Remove from pans, brush with melted butter.
• Cool., serve with remaining plum butter.
• Makes 2 loaves (32 servings).
• Make-Ahead Tips: Transfer remaining prune butter to freezer container; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving. Cool loaves completely. Wrap bread in foil and place in airtight freezer containers or plastic freezer bags; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw bread for 2 hours at room temperature.

PLUM-APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apples, plums and water in a large kettle; cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Cool. , Puree in batches in a food processor or blender; return all to the kettle. Add sugar and spices. Simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Cool completely. Pour into jars. , Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

SUGAR PLUM BREAD WITH HOMEMADE BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp sugar in warm water.
• Sprinkle in yeast and let stand 10 minutes then stir well.
• Add 1/2 cup sugar, butter, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat for 2 minutes.
• Add 2 more cups flour and eggs. Beat 3 minutes.
• Stir in remaining flour. You should have a soft dough. Knead for 8 minutes. Place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with greased paper and a towel.
• Let rise for 2 hours in a warm oven.
• Punch down. Knead in fruit and nuts. Shape into 2 balls.
• Place in greased 8" cake pans. Cover with a towel and let rise for 1-1/2 hours. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes at 350°.
• Remove from pans at once. Drizzle with glaze.
• Glaze: Mix sugar and water together. If too stiff, add more water by drops.
• Butter: In a glass jar, shake the whipping cream until butter forms. Drain and chill until ready to use.

DRIED-PLUM-BUTTER STACK CAKE

Steps:

• Dried-plum butter: Bring dried plums, orange juice, lemon zest and juice, and 2 cups water to a boil in a covered medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until fruit is beginning to break down, 35 to 40 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup water, brown sugar, and salt, mashing mixture with the back of a spoon until jam-like. Transfer to a medium bowl; let cool completely. Dried-plum butter can be stored in refrigerator, covered, up to 1 week.
• Cookies: Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Beat butter with sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg. Reduce speed to low and beat in flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with milk, until combined. Divide dough into 9 pieces. Shape into disks, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Working with one dough piece at a time (keep the rest in refrigerator), roll out on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a roughly 8 1/2-inch round. Using a paring knife and a cake pan or plate as a guide, cut dough into an 8-inch round. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; refrigerate while rolling and cutting remaining dough pieces, placing 2 rounds on each sheet.
• Bake cookies in batches until golden and firm in center, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
• Place 1 cookie on a cake plate and spread with 1/2 cup dried-plum butter, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Top with another cookie and spread with another 1/2 cup dried-plum butter. Continue stacking and spreading until all 9 cookies have been used. (Do not spread filling on top layer.) Wrap in plastic; refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 1 day.
• Serve, dolloped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon.

FRESH PLUM APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place plums, apples and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 12-15 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly., Place in a blender; cover and process until pureed. Return all to the saucepan. Add sugar and spices; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently., Cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks.

PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Sterilize jars and lids .
• Freeze several small plates to use for testing butter.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot. Add pod and stir in remaining ingredients. Slowly bring to a rolling boil over moderate heat (this will take about 15 minutes), stirring frequently. Boil, uncovered, stirring frequently, until plums are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Discard pod. Purée plums with liquid in batches in food mill set over a bowl. Transfer purée to pot and simmer over low heat, stirring and scraping bottom of pan frequently, until very thick, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (To test for doneness, drop a spoonful of plum butter on a chilled plate, then tilt; the mixture should not be runny. It should be about as thick as jam.)
• Drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel 1 minute, then invert. Ladle plum butter into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top, then run a thin knife between plum butter and jar to eliminate air bubbles.
• Seal, process, and store filled jars , boiling plum butter in jars 10 minutes.
• Let plum butter stand in jars at least 1 day for flavors to develop.

PLUM APPLE BUTTER WITH AGAVE

Steps:

• Combine plums, apples, and apple juice in a large pot over medium heat. Cover pot and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Mash fruit with a potato masher.
• Stir agave nectar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger into mashed fruit. Simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens, 30 to 50 minutes. Cool completely, at least 1 hour. Pour apple butter into jars and cover with a lid; refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.

CRAB CAKES WITH LEMON BUTTER AND PLUM TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• FOR SALSA: Mix all ingredients in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.) FOR CRAB CAKES: Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic; saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, and then breadcrumbs. Saute 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Mix in crabmeat and green onions. Season with salt and pepper; mix in eggs. Using about 1/3 cup for each, shape mixture into sixteen 3/4-inch-thick crab cakes. Arrange on baking sheet. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover; chill.) FOR LEMON BUTTER: Mix first 4 ingredients in medium skillet. Boil over medium heat until reduced to glaze, about 2 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Add 1 cup butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking until melted before adding next piece (occasionally remove from heat to prevent boiling). Whisk in cream; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in each of 2 heavy large skillets over medium heat. Add half of crab cakes to each skillet. Saute until cooked through and golden, about 5 minutes per side. Rewarm lemon butter over low heat, whisking often (do not boil). Divide among 8 plates. Arrange 2 crab cakes on each plate. Top with salsa.

SPICED PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine juice and plums in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Place plum mixture in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Press pureed mixture through a fine sieve over a bowl; discard solids.
• Combine plum mixture, sugar, and remaining ingredients in pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 1 hour or until thick, stirring frequently. Cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 months.

JUMBO POPOVERS WITH FRESH PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• To Make Jumbo Popovers:.
• Generously grease 6 (6-ounce) custard cups and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat all ingredients until smooth.
• Pour into greased cups. Complete now or make ahead.
• (To complete now): Preheat oven to 400F while preparing the batter. Place filled custard cups in a foil-lined jelly-roll pan, to catch any overflow. Bake in preheated oven 40 to 50 minutes or until surface is browned and center is moist, but not gummy. Cut open one popover to test for doneness. Serve hot.
• (To make ahead): Refrigerate batter in custard cups up to 1 hour. Place cups in foil-lined jelly-roll pan. Bake in preheated oven 50 to 60 minutes or until surface is browned and center is moist but not gummy. Serve hot. If desired, freeze baked popovers in an airtight container up to 7 days. To reheat, return to clean custard cups. Preheat oven to 350F and heat 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 6 servings.
• To Make Fresh Plum Butter:.
• In a blender or food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine plums, powdered sugar (add dash of cinnamon, if using) and butter. Blend until smooth and creamy. Complete now or make ahead.
• (To complete now): Spoon into a serving dish and refrigerate at least 15 minutes. Serve slightly chilled. Use leftovers on toast or muffins the next day.
• (To make ahead): Spoon into a 3-cup container with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate up to 3 o r 4 days, depending on ripeness of plums. Makes 2 1/2 to 3 cups.

UKRAINIAN PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Coat the inside of a large saucepan with the melted butter. Then put in the plums and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon, for about 20 minutes, or until they are soft.
• Put the plums through a strainer or food mill, clean the saucepan, and return the plum pulp to it. Stirring all the time, cook over low heat until the pulp is very thick and dark. Stir in the grated peel, if using, and the sugar. Put the butter into jars, cover and process. To make about 7 pints.

DRIED PLUM RAVIOLI WITH SAGE BUTTER

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, dried plums, parmesan cheese, garlic and pepper. Set aside. For each ravioli, brush edges of 1 wrapper with egg white. Place 2 teaspoons plum mixture onto center. Fold diagonally in half to form a triangle; seal edges, pressing to remove any air pockets. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers. Refrigerate on wax paper lined baking sheet until ready to cook(up to 2 hours).
• Meanwhile, in small saucepan, cook butter and sage over medium high heat until butter begins to turn brown. Remove from heat and keep warm. In large saucepan, add half of the ravioli to boiling water. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Using a slotted spoon, remove ravioli to individual serving bowls. Repeat with remaining ravioli. Drizzle each serving with sage butter.