Plum Slump

There is nothing better than an easy, homey dessert made with seasonal fruits in my opinion. Plum Slump (don’t let the name turn you off) is an Americana classic dessert recipe that is a cinch to make and even better to eat!

I have a personal soft spot for vintage recipes, often reinvigorating those from my multi-generational family recipe box or from vintage recipe collections I’ve purchased online. I’m not a fussy baker; I admire a pristine, flawless Martha Stewart caliber cake but it’s just not in my DNA to produce one myself. I also love a rustic recipe that seems like real people have and would enjoy eating it. This Plum Slump recipe is no exception.

For quite some time I’ve been enchanted with rustic Americana desserts gone by the wayside. Their names are captivating and strange; Pandowdy, Brown Betty, Grunt, Slump and Buckles. Each name has very practical roots despite not leaving the dish sounding incredibly enticing! These desserts all center on seasonal fruit, are generally simple and fast to prepare (all the better in my book).

It is plum season in Colorado and despite sounding like a dish featuring fruit with bad posture this Plum Slump is a lovely dessert; not too sweet, simple and relaxed. This same recipe is either known as a ‘Slump’ or a ‘Grunt’ depending on where in the U.S. it is consumed.

The south would call it a slump because as it cooks, the sweet dumpling atop the fruit relaxes into a slump. In New England it’s referred to as a ‘grunt’ due to the sound made by the steam escaping through the dumpling as it cools. Regardless of the less-than-tantalizing names, the dish stands on its own and does not disappoint!

This is a very versatile dessert really able to be made with any type of fruit or a fruit mixture. Instead of varying from the plums I used four varieties turning the thickened fruit on the bottom a gorgeous red tone. The recipe calls to simmer the fruit then add a bread topping which cooks into a soft, sweet dumpling.

5 from 2 votes

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Plum Slump

Plum Slump is a fantastic, relaxed dessert to ease into fall. The combination of fresh simmered plums and a sweet biscuit topping is homey and easy to make.Since this recipe was originally shared as part of a Guest Post in the UK, I'm including a a conversion chart for those outside the U.S. to adapt the measurements. Gluten-free or gluten flour may be used.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword easy plum dessert recipe, plum grunt, plum slump

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 6 -8 servings

Calories 251 kcal

Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

• 3 cups plums , pitted and sliced
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup water*
• ¾ cup all purpose flour (regular or gluten free)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter , cold
• 1/3 cup buttermilk

Instructions

1. In a large sauce pan combine the plums, water and ½ cup sugar. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and reduce to simmer on low heat.
2. In a medium bowl stir together the flour, remaining sugar (1/4 cup), baking powder, cinnamon, salt. Add butter cutting it into the flour mixture with handheld pastry blender or a dull kitchen knife until resembling crumbs.
3. Add buttermilk to flour mixture and stir just until lightly mixed. Do not over mix.
4. Spoon small mounds of dumpling dough on top of the simmering fruit mixture (remember it will ‘slump’ together to cover the mixture). Simmer covered until a toothpick inserted into the dumplings comes out clean about 15-20 minutes. Note: dumplings will cook through but will remain softer in texture. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

*should you want to experiment a bit, substituting a light dessert wine for some or all of the water would add some unique flavor to the plum mixture.

Nutrition Facts

Plum Slump

Amount Per Serving

Calories 251 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 16mg 5%

Sodium 115mg 5%

Potassium 231mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 47g 16%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 33g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 9.6%

Vitamin C 9.5%

Calcium 5.7%

Iron 5.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post has been updated from its original publication in September 2012 as a Guest Post for blogging friend and colleague Caroline Taylor, creator of All That I’m Eating in Berkshire England. We met online and found a kinship through our mutual love of Farmer’s Markets, seasonal eating, developing recipes from our personal garden’s bounty and infusing liquor. I’ve recreated such things as Hedgerow Gin which Caroline guided for Colorado substitutions to the traditional ingredients. I have fancied her Victoria Sponge Cake with Strawberry Balsamic Jam for years, admiring its ingredients combined by weight rather than specific measurements. Caroline shares recipes, dining reviews and travel on All That I’m Eating. The original Guest Post may be viewed here.