1. Plum Upside-Down Cake
Upside-down cakes are a great way to use up fruit and turn it into caramelized, jammy goodness. This version starts with plenty of plums (or other stone fruit) and brown sugar for an ultra-sweet summer treat. Don’t forget to serve it warm and with ice cream. Recipe here!
2. Plum Galette
Galettes offer all the tastiness of a pie but with less work. This version includes a buckwheat crust for some nuttiness as well as warming spices to balance with the sweet, slightly tart plums. Recipe here!
3. Spiced Poached Plums
If your plums are about to go bad, you can give them a new life by poaching them. This entire recipe takes less than 30 minutes, and you’re left with several spiced, soft plums that will taste great on their own, with ice cream or yogurt, over oatmeal, or even as cake toppings. Be sure to reserve the poaching liquid to enjoy, too. Recipe here!
4. Plum and Blackberry Crisp
One of the easiest ways to use up excess fruit is to turn it into a crisp. This version combines plums with tangy blackberries, both of which become soft and jammy as they bake beneath the crisped oat topping. Like with many plum desserts, you’ll want to serve this one up with ice cream.
5. Plum Jam
When you have a lot of plums on your hand, you can preserve their flavor at peak ripeness by making jam. This easy jam is made with just plums, sugar, water, and lemon juice. Be sure to sterilize your jars before adding in the jam, which can keep for a long time unopened or a few months in the fridge after opening — meaning you can enjoy it through summer and into fall. Recipe here!
6. Plum and Pistachio Oatmeal Cups
Sweet treats aren’t limited to dessert. These hearty oatmeal cups are the perfect way to start your day. The earthiness of the pistachios help contrast the sweetness of the plums. As a bonus, these oatmeal cups are easy to make ahead for the week and are vegan-friendly. Recipe here!
7. Plum Fruit Leather
Feeling nostalgic? Make these plum fruit leather strips, an upgraded version of the store-bought ones you loved as a child. You just wash and bake the plums, blend them into a puree with sugar, then spread them on pans to dehydrate in a food dehydrator or in the oven. The result is a tangy, sweet snack that will make you feel like a kid again. Recipe here!
8. Plum and Wine Ice Pops
When you need to cool off, you’ll be thankful to have these homemade ice pops in the freezer. They include plums and red wine for a rich flavor, although you can leave the wine out for a simple frozen fruit pop instead.