7 Plum & Damson Recipes Getting Us In The Mood For Autumn

Of the many fruits that September’s bountiful harvest yields, the plum and its smaller, tarter cousin, the damson, are our very favourites. Rich and jewel-like, they walk the fine line between the sweet and the sour (depending on ripeness) and beckon us enticingly from a summer spent barefoot outside back to the stove to cook for the cosier months ahead, ideally in our slippers. When we’re not devouring them just as they are, we’ll be making the most of these seasonal gems in a variety of autumnal ways, from rich, spiced crumbles to tangy preserves. These are the plum and damson recipes we’re in the mood for as the nights draw in.

Plum Salad With Black Pepper And Parmesan

Bon Appetit


Presented with a plum harvest, our first instinct is always to cook up something sweet and spiced. But don’t neglect the savoury – as this recipe proves, paired with the right flavours, it can really bring out that sweet/tart tightrope walk. We love how it leans into the fine balance, bringing out the sweetness with honey and the tangier notes with the salty pecorino and the sharp vinegar, all topped with cracked black pepper. The perfect autumn salad. Get the recipe.

Pulled Lamb With Plum Sriracha

Olive Magazine


Slow-cooked lamb in a a sweet plum-sriracha marinade: is there a more perfect recipe for cosy and convivial long Sunday lunches with friends as the weather turns and the red wine flows? We say not. Get the recipe.

Plum Butter

Urban Crofter
Plum jam may already be a staple of your autumn breakfast table – but have you tried plum butter? Pflaumenmus – a traditional German fruit spread – is the ultimate in comfort food, perfect for spreading on toast or for using in baking. As the Urban Crofter tells us, ‘The funny thing about this jam is that it is slowly baked in the oven, rather than boiled in a pan. This concentrates the plum flavour and embeds the warm tones of winter spices. The result is a comforting fruity spread. We love to eat it on toast and pancakes, especially lovely during the colder months of the year.’ Containing all the best flavours of autumn – plum or damsons, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg – we’d make it for the bliss of the smell alone. Get the recipe.

Damson Fool With Macaroon Fingers

Delicious Magazine


We’ve said it before and, doubtless, we’ll say it many a time again: we love anything that is make-ahead when it comes to cooking for other people (and indeed ourselves). This brilliant damson fool recipe by Debbie Major scores beautifully on that front – plus it looks deeply impressive and absolutely beautiful. You could, of course, buy the macaroon fingers, but should you take the time to make them, they store nicely in an air-tight container for up to three months. Get the recipe.

Rustic Harvest Fruit Tart

BBC Good Food


There is nothing more comforting nor cosy than a good rustic pudding laden with seasonal fruits. Once you’ve made your rough puff pastry (imperfection is key here), all that’s left is to toss in blueberries, blackberries and plums, all coated in orange zest and sugar, cook for 35 minutes and then serve up with a generous dollop of clotted cream. A recipe to devour by the fire if ever there was one. Get the recipe.

Damson Jam

Rachel Phipps


No list of damson and plum recipes would be complete without mention of jam. If you have a glut of these small, tart jewels on your hands, there is no better way to bottle their flavour to enjoy later than by adding plenty of sugar and creating jar upon jar of jam to devour or to give away. It sets perfectly, tastes even better and will see you through the winter mornings beautifully when slathered on buttered farmhouse toast. Get the recipe.

Plum Crumble

The Spruce Eats


Apple crumble may be classic, but spiced plum crumble, especially when layered in with pears as suggested by the ever-excellent The Spruce Eats, is hands-down our favourites. Served with a rich spiced red wine, there is no cosier nor more comforting way to conclude a meal. Get the recipe.