• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Slow Cooker
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Slow Cooker
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Slow Cooker
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

    Stewed Plums

    Published: Mar 15, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    79 shares
    • 40
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan
    Jump to Recipe
    Stewed plums with a text title overlay.
    Stewed plums with a text title overlay.

    These easy stewed plums are a deliciously sweet dessert with warming vanilla and cinnamon. Plums stewed in a thick syrup are also a great breakfast option with yogurt and granola. It takes just 30 minutes and 6 ingredients to poach plums.

    Twelve stewed plum halves in a round bowl.

    Stewed plums are one of our favourite plum recipes, as it's an easy way to use up a lot of them when they are in abundance. They are coated in an incredible syrup which is so comforting and just look how glossy they are! The vibrant colour of these plums means they look impressive enough to serve up to guests too.

    Serve with ice cream or custard for a plum dessert or with yogurt and granola for a sweet breakfast.

    If you are looking for some more recipes with plums, why not try our Apple and Plum Crumble?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to stew plums- Step by step
    • Variations
    • What to serve with stewed plums
    • Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Extra tips
    • More dessert recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A great way to use plums - When plums are in season, they are in abundance and they are so sweet and delicious. However, even if you are using out of season plums, cooking them low and slow in this stewed plums recipe really softens them and brings our their flavour.
    • Easy to make - This is a one pan recipe and you just dump everything in and let the plums stew in the syrup.
    • Budget friendly - When plums are in season, they are very reasonable - especially from a market.
    • Versatile - There are so many ways to serve this recipe for plums, and we have given you lots of ideas below.
    • Freezable - Make extra of these and keep them in the freezer for a quick dessert or breakfast topping.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Plums - Try to choose ripe plums. If your plums aren't ripe and a little hard, you can still use them for this recipe but they will take a little longer. Make sure you cut them in half and remove the stone before using.
    • Sugar - We added a little sugar for the syrup, but we didn't want it overly sweet because we still wanted there to be some tartness from the fruit. You could swap the sugar for brown sugar, which would give more of a caramel flavour, or you could use a liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
    • Orange Juice - This adds some extra sweetness, and also some freshness. You could use apple juice instead or even lemon juice which would make it more tangy.
    • Water - This helps thin out the syrup.
    • Vanilla and Cinnamon - These add a lovely warmth to the stewed plums recipe. You could also add some star anise.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to stew plums- Step by step

    One: Put the water, orange juice, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon into a saucepan.

    A cinnamon stick in a yellow liquid in a saucepan.

    Two: Simmer until all the sugar has dissolved and a syrup has formed, about 10 minutes.

    A saucepan containing a brown syrup and a cinnamon stick.

    Three: Add the plums to the syrup and return to the heat.

    Plum halves added to the pan.

    Four: Heat over a low heat, stirring regularly, until the plums have softened - about 20 minutes.

    Plums that have stewed down in a syrup.

    Five: Discard the cinnamon stick and serve.

    Variations

    This is a really simple recipe, so there aren't too many ways to adapt it. However, for something more indulgent and perfect for Christmas, you could swap half the water for red wine and it makes mulled plums.

    You could also add some star anise to the spices and some ginger which compliments with cinnamon well.

    If you wanted a mixture of fruit, you could add some peeled and sliced apples to make stewed apples and plums.

    What to serve with stewed plums

    You could just serve them as they are. Look how silky and deliciously red they look. Just grab and spoon and dig in!

    If you wanted to eat these for breakfast, then we like them with some Greek yogurt and our Low Sugar Granola. You could also use them as a pancake or waffle topping. We love stirring leftovers through our Microwave Porridge too.

    If you are looking to serve them as a dessert, then why not put them on top of ice cream, rice pudding, or with custard or cream.

    A bowl of stewed plums with yogurt and granola.

    Storage

    Store: Leftover stewed plums will keep in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Freeze: These freeze really well. Make sure they are fully cooled and then transfer to a freezer bag and they will keep for up to 3 months.

    Defrost: You can defrost them in the fridge overnight.

    Reheat: Put them in a pan and reheat on low.

    Cooked plum halves in a red coloured syrup.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long to stewed plums take to cook?

    The cooking time will depend on how ripe your fruit is. If you have really ripe plums, then they might cook in just 10 minutes. Out of season plums will take a little longer. It also depends on the size of your plums.

    Can you stew plums with the stone in?

    Yes, you can stew the plums whole and then cut them in half and remove the stone after, but we find it easier to do it first.

    Can you stew plums in the microwave?

    Yes, you can. Put all of the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl, cover with clingfilm and pierce several times. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the plums have softened.

    Do I need to peel the plums?

    No, there is no need to peel the plums first. If you did want to, it's best to wait until they are stewed as the skin will come off much easier.

    How to cut a plum

    Take a sharp knife and then cut around the middle of the plum and twist the two halves open to reveal the stone. Take your knife again and slice round the stone and remove it. You can then cut the plum halves into slices. We left the skins on, however you can remove them if you prefer.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • For the best stewed plums, you want to cook them low and slow. You might see some recipes that say they are ready in 10 minutes, but we find that the longer cooking time is worth it. It really softens the plums (which is needed if they are out of season) and gets a nice thick syrup.
    • You can serve these hot or cold.
    • Don't go too heavy on the spices, as you want them to be subtle.

    More dessert recipes

    • Bakewell pudding topped with icing sugar, fresh raspberries and flaked almonds.
      Bakewell Pudding
    • Watermelon fruit pizza topped with fruit and a drizzle of chocolate.
      Watermelon Fruit Pizza
    • Healthy Eton mess in a serving glass.
      Healthy Eton Mess
    • A fruit platter on a wooden surface.
      Fruit Platter

    If you’ve tried this stewed plum recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Stewed plums in a large round serving dish.

    Stewed Plums

    By: Dannii Martin
    These easy stewed plums are a deliciously sweet dessert. Plums stewed in syrup are also a great breakfast option taking just 30 minutes and 6 ingredients.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
    Vegan
    4.84 from 12 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: British
    Prep: 2 minutes mins
    Cook: 30 minutes mins
    Total: 32 minutes mins
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 168kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 6 Plums - halved and de-stoned
    • 1 Cinnamon stick
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 75 g (0.33 cups) Brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoon Orange juice
    • 200 ml (0.75 cups) Water

    Instructions

    • Put 200 ml Water, 2 tablespoon Orange juice, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, 75 g Brown sugar and 1 Cinnamon stick into a saucepan.
    • Simmer until all the sugar has dissolved and a syrup has formed, about 10 minutes.
    • Add 6 Plums (halved and de-stoned) to the syrup and return to the heat.
    • Heat over a low heat, stirring regularly, until the plums have softened - about 20 minutes.
    • Discard the cinnamon stick and serve.

    Recipe tips

    • For the best stewed plums, you want to cook them low and slow. You might see some recipes that say they are ready in 10 minutes, but we find that the longer cooking time is worth it. It really softens the plums (which is needed if they are out of season) and gets a nice thick syrup.
    • You can serve these hot or cold.
    • Don't go too heavy on the spices, as you want them to be subtle.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 482IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

     

    You'll love these too...

    • Kefir overnight oats in a glass topped with raspberries.
      Kefir Overnight Oats
    • Healthy pumpkin bread on a sheet of baking paper.
      Healthy Pumpkin Bread
    • Three air fryer brownies stacked up on a piece of baking paper.
      Air Fryer Brownies
    • Blackberry muffins on a wire rack.
      Blackberry Muffins

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sammy

      April 24, 2023 at 2:50 pm

      3 stars
      This recipe was a little overly sugary for me, considering plums are sweet already. It was simple enough to make though, and the cinnamon was a nice touch

      Reply
    2. Andrea

      March 16, 2023 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      These stewed plums sound lovely. I am looking forward to trying them.

      Reply
    3. Beth

      March 16, 2023 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love the flavors and I love how simple it is! All I need now is some vanilla ice cream.

      Reply
    4. Shelby

      March 16, 2023 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious way to use up one of my favorite summer fruits. So simple, and so good.

      Reply
    5. Ned

      March 16, 2023 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      I've never had these, but I'm so glad I tried! DELICIOUS! Thank you so much! Can't wait to make them again.

      Reply
    6. Kushigalu

      March 16, 2023 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      Drooling over these plums.Thanks for the simple and delicious recipe.

      Reply
    7. Sisley White - Sew White

      March 16, 2023 at 3:07 pm

      5 stars
      I adore plums but I haven't stewed them in ages. I will be doing this recipe asap.

      Reply
    8. Helen

      March 16, 2023 at 2:50 pm

      5 stars
      My Grandma used to make something like this - you've brought back some lovely memories! Definitely giving these a try :-)

      Reply
    9. Gloria

      March 16, 2023 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      I remember my mom making something similar when I was a kid. Simple and delicious.

      Reply
    10. Savita

      March 16, 2023 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      This was very easy to make, and turned out really good. Great recipe, oh and the color of stewed plums is everything.

      Reply

    Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Stewed plums with a text title overlay.
    Stewed plums with a text title overlay.
    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.

    Welcome!
    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Salad Recipes

    • A red bowl full of green bean salad.
      Green Bean Salad
    • A large bowl of aubergine salad next to a yellow towel.
      Aubergine Salad
    • A bowl of watercress salad with a wooden fork and spoon in it.
      Watercress Salad
    • Asparagus salad on a large round plate.
      Asparagus Salad
    • Halloumi salad on a round blue plate.
      Halloumi Salad
    • Rocket salad in a large serving bowl.
      Rocket Salad

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • A pile of air fryer chips.
      The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry on a blue and white plate.
      10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy tomato pasta sauce coating tagliatelle on a white plate.
      Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • Slow cooker beef brisket sliced up on a serving board.
      Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

    Footer

    Stewed plums with a text title overlay.
    Stewed plums with a text title overlay.

    Help & Information

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    About us

    • About us
    • Newsletter Sign Up!
    • Press enquiries
    • Web Stories
    • FAQ

    Follow us

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

    ^ back to top

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 40
    79 shares