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.
Plum Slump
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
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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.
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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.
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Add buttermilk to flour mixture and stir just until lightly mixed. Do not over mix.
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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.
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.
Teri says
Can this be used with processed plums? If so what Changes need to be made.
Toni Dash says
I’ve only made the recipe as written with fresh plums!
Louise Bishop says
That looks delicious! This was not a day to skip breakfast! Diets make it so tough to see stuff like this haha
Monica says
THIS! You are brilliant. Another amazing recipe from you.
Katherine G says
This looks so delicious! I would totally give this a try. I love plums. I’ve never had this dessert before.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Love the vibrant red color!
Rosey says
Hurrah for plum season! Those look tasty delicious good too!
Mary Edwards says
Oh wow I would LOVE to have this NOW….warmed up with some ice cream! yummy
kristin says
Oh how cute are these! My girls would love this!!
Katherine G says
This dish looks so delicious! I love plums. I would totally gobble this dish down.
Ann Bacciaglia says
This recipe looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some for dessert this week.
Jeanine says
Wow I am loving how this looks. It sounds really good too would love to make this over the weekend for my family!
Nikki Wayne says
Wow. I haven’t tried anything like this before. Looks really delicious!
Kelly Hutchinson says
Yum! That looks so amazing. We don’t usually have a lot of plum desserts. But I would love to try this.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I love going back to your website for delicious recipes. I love that they are easy to make and the ingredients are not difficult to find. I will try making this plum slump. I bet it was yummy. Look at all those empty bowls.
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
Love the name! I never seem to cook with plums, even though I adore them. I think that may need to change!