Plum Cobbler

Plum Cobbler offers a charming slice of British tradition, much like its crumble cousin, with stewed fruits nestled under a scone-like topping that soaks up all the juicy goodness – it's the dessert equivalent of a cosy chat over tea. This recipe evokes a sense of homely comfort, perfect for those moments when you crave something simple yet aspirational, blending sweet nostalgia with the satisfaction of effortless baking.

At its heart, the cobbler highlights the tart vibrancy of plums paired with subtle sweetness, creating a symphony of flavours that's both invigorating and soothing. The texture plays a delightful role too, with tender fruit contrasting the soft, crumbly dough, making for a mouthwatering experience that's as texturally engaging as it is flavourful, using key ingredients like fresh plums and a touch of spice for that extra warmth.

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Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30-40 minutes

Ingredients

Plums

750 plums, stone removed and roughly diced into large pieces
250g caster sugar
100ml water
1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp corn flour

Dough

200g self raising flour
4 tbsp caster sugar
100g butter, diced into small pieces
100ml buttermilk or 50/50 milk an natural yoghurt
1 tbsp of caster sugar

Method

Plums: Place the plums in a saucepan with the caster sugar, water and cinnamon stick. Place the saucepan over a moderate heat and bring it to a steady simmer. Cook the plums until they are tender and the sugar and water has reduced down to a sticky sauce. If it is to runny take a couple of tablespoon of it and mix it with the corn flour and then stir it into the plum mixture so that it thickens it slightly. Pour the mixture out evenly into a 20cm round glass oven proof container.
Dough: Sift the flour into a bowl and mix in the flour. Add the diced butter to the bowl and rub it into the flour until it is fully incorporated and you have a crumb like mixture. With a wooden spoon mix in the buttermilk or milk and yoghurt mixture. Stir the mixture vigorously until it forms a moist dough.
Preheat an oven to 200°C. Sprinkle some flour over a work top, place the dough on the surface and roll it out until it 2-2.5cm thick. With a small biscuit cutter cut out all the dough. Place the rounds of dough all over the plums with a little space in between them. Sprinkle over 1 tbsp of caster sugar and place the plum cobbler in the preheated oven. Cook the Cobbler for 20 minutes until the scones have risen and they are golden brown.
To Serve: Serve the plum cobbler hot or cold on its own or accompanied with good quality vanilla ice-cream, cream or home made custard.