Sweet, tangy, and crunchy with a hint of chai masala, this vegan spiced plum crumble is so delicious, and easy to make too. Serve it hot with custard or ice cream, and I guarantee you'll soon be feeling completely hygge.
(Are we still doing hygge? I know I am - I'm all about the hygge!)
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It's officially autumn - my favourite time of the year. Huzzah! And you know what that means, don't you? It's time to make hearty, warming, comforting foods.
The plums for this spiced plum crumble did not, I have to admit, come from our orchard because right up until late spring, there was snow. Which prevented the plum blossoms setting... ergo, no plums in the autumn.
Fortunately, at my local market, there are plenty of sellers whose orchards are not up in the Carpathian foothills, so they've yielded a wondrous bounty. So much so, that plums are only 3,50 lei per kilo (that's around 70p, or 90 US cents).
Crumbles have always been among my favourite desserts, especially when served with cinnamon ice cream or hot, creamy, custard. When I saw the plums at the market on Saturday, I just knew I had to put them in a crumble. Because it's autumn, right?
Vegan custard
Now, if you're thinking that I've found a genius way to make veganised egg custard, you'd be wrong, and I'm sorry to potentially disappoint you. The truth of the matter is that I have actually never liked egg custard. Because I've never liked eggs. No matter what anyone says, egg custard tastes of eggs. It's gross!
I've always made my custard with cornflour (cornstarch), sugar, vanilla, milk, and cream. Just as my dear old gran did.
(Actually, most of the time, she used Bird's custard powder... but occasionally she'd make it from scratch.)
These days I use plant milks and creams to make my custard, and they work perfectly. In fact, amato mio, who is not a custard fan, actually likes my 'cheat' custard!
Is anyone else now hankering for bananas and custard? Yum!
Making spiced plum crumble
Making this spiced plum crumble is really easy, especially if you have a food processor; simply wash your plums, and remove the stones, mix them with the spices, and arrange them in the bottom of a large pie dish. Make the crumble topping, spread it out over the top of the plums, then bake in the oven.
By the way, if you like a denser crumble topping but still want it to be a bit 'fluffy', just press it down a bit with the back of a spoon, and then rake the top with a fork. Perfect!
Check out these vegan sweet treats, too!
You'lllove this vegan spiced plum crumble
Because it's...
- Sweet
- Juicy
- Tart
- Warmingly spicy
- Comforting
- Kid-approved!
- Deliciously more-ish!
Have it with custard. Have it with ice cream. Have it on its own - it's certainly moist enough. However you have it, I'm certain you're going to adore this plum crumble!
Enjoy!
How would you eat your spiced plum crumble?
📖 Recipe
Vegan Spiced Plum Crumble
Ingredients
For the crumble topping:
- 300 g plain flour (aka all-purpose)
- dash sea salt
- 130 g vegan butter or margarine
- 75 g demerara sugar
- 75 g white sugar
- 50 g ground almonds
- 2 tablespoon flaked almonds
For the plum filling:
- 1 kg fresh plums, stones removed
- 2 tablespoon demerara sugar
- 1 vanilla pod seeds only
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2½ teaspoon chai masala
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 200°C (400°F/gas mark 6).
- Place the flour, salt, and vegan butter into the bowl of a food processor, and briefly blitz until you have a mixture resembling breadcrumbs.
- Add the sugars and ground almonds, and pulse a few times, until they're mixed in.
- After removing the stones from the plums, place them into a mixing bowl, along with the rest of the filling ingredients, and mix well, ensuring the plums are coated with sugar and spices.
- Arrange in a deep pie dish or lasagne dish, then spread the crumble over the top.
- Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the crumble, and bake in the centre of the oven for around 35 minutes, until the crumble and the almonds are a golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Leftovers can be kept in the 'fridge, covered over, for 3-4 days.
- 1 cup = US cup = 240 ml
- 1 tablespoon = US/UK = 15 ml
- 1 fl oz = US = 30 ml
Julie McPherson
The colour of this spiced plum crumble is just awesome, very tempting indeed. Commenting as BritMums Baking Round-up Editor. 🙂
Nico
I must admit, Julie, I do love the colour of it too - it's just so vibrant, isn't it? Lovely to see you here, BTW! xx
Corina Blum
This looks amazing! It must be one of the most tempting crumbles I've seen too! We had two plum trees in our garden when I was growing up so I used to eat loads of plum crumbles when I was a child. This is definitely making me miss them! x
Nico
Isn't it wonderful to have fruit trees in your garden, Corina? And so great for encouraging healthy eating habits in kids too! xx
Jacqueline Meldrum
That looks amazing, but I want it with custard! Like right now! Sharing this one!
Nico
Oh yes, custard is the epitome of chilly weather food, isn't it, Jac?! xx
Nadia
Wow this looks amazing, Nico! I'm so in love with plums at the moment. This crumble is so perfect for autumn 😀
Nico
Thanks so much, Nadia! Plums, crumble, autumn - they just go so well together, don't they? xx
Sharon
Your photos are absolutely stunning Nico. True works of art <3
I was really excited to see our little plum tree laden with plums this year, but sadly they were all maggoty 🙁 I've never known a year like it. Literally every plum I opened had a wiggly maggot in it. So no stewed plums or plum crumbles for me this year. HOWEVER, there are tons of maggot-free apples on our apple tree, which I better start picking and cooking. Luckily, stewed apples are another favourite of mine. Just love those autumnal fruits!
Nico
Thank you so much, Sharon, that's so kind of you to say so!
I'm so sorry about your plums, I can easily imagine how disappointed you must have been. Still, at least you have apples... which, as you say, are really gorgeous when stewed too. And yes, I am in complete agreement about autumn fruits - the more the merrier! xx
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
How have I never had plum crumble Nico. I just love crumble - apple, rhubarb, blackberry & apple but never plum! I just love all of that beautiful colour from the plum juices and I bet they taste amazing with those spices! It really makes me want to go to the shop right this minute to buy a few plums and have this after our tea! Food porn for sure! Pinning
Angela lx
Nico
Plum crumble is amazeballs, Angela... I really hope you try it soon - I bet you'll adore it! Y'know what I haven't had for years though? Gooseberry crumble! I've never even seen gooseberries outside Britain. The other week, while on my monthly trip to Auchan, I saw some frozen gooseberries in the freezer section, so I grabbed a bag and the scoop, thinking, "Oooh, I'm going to make crumbles, pies, and jam with these"... and then discovered they were actually frozen grapes! I was so disappointed! Ha ha! xx
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
Haha, frozen grapes - now that's something i've not seen. But you're right, I bet gooseberries are a 'British' thing, abnd to be honest I hardly ever see them in the supermarket these days. it's so sad cos they're blinking gorgeous! (as are plums!) Thanks for joining in with #BakingCrumbs Nico
Angela x
Nico
It's a real shame that goosegogs aren't around so much now - I think we should make it our mission to blog about them next gooseberry season, and see if we can help to make them popular again! xx
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
Perfect, perfect pud! I absolutely love the sound of all the gorgeously fragrant spices in your plum filling Nico, mmm!
I would so have mine with lashings of custard (Bird's custard powder girl here, love it!) 🙂 x
Nico
So happy to discover I'm not the only one who's fond of Bird's Custard powder - that stuff rocks! The taste of my childhood. Ha ha!
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Oh Nico, this is pure perfection in a bowl! Delicious, I need this! x #CookBlogShare
Nico
It is, Kirsty... and very happiness-inducing too! No one could be sad while eating this, I'm sure! xx
Anne|Craving Something Healthy
This looks so delicious! I love the flavors in your plum filling! Pinned and I will definitely be trying soon 🙂
Nico
Thanks so much, Anne - I really hope you love it. In fact, I bet you will! xx
jenny walters
How fabulous does this look????Wonderful colours, perfect for Autumn. Great for a Sunday Lunch leaving you full, content and warm.Love your Plum pic.
Nico
Thanks so much, Jenny... and you're absolutely right, this is so perfect for Sunday lunch, isn't it? xx
Catherine Brown
These colors are brilliant! I adore plums and love learning new ways to use them. This dessert looks fabulous!
Nico
Thank you so much, Catherine! I love them too... in savoury dishes as well as sweet. I've just made a load of plum compote... bring on the ice cream! 😉 xx
Hanne
Nico, Oh no you didn't! This recipe is tooooo.
Tooo, sensual, too vibrant, too spot on. You cruel woman, here I lie bedraggled in my bathrobe, glasses akimbo with a cold cup of coffee and you show up on my screen with a dessert of melting autumn fruits that fairly begs me so pay attention. I can smell them, and almost taste them. gaaaaa
My mother's huge plum tree (that I bought and planted for her) was felled in a hurricane a few years ago, actually two weeks after she died. But there is the Saturday farmer's market, so off I'll go like Red Riding hood to face the wolves and buy plums.
.
Nico
I did, Jojo - I soooo did! Hurr hurr!
Oh, what a shame about your mum's tree but at least it lasted for the rest of her life, right? If the wolves get too ferocious, you could always spit plum stones at them... as you sit, sipping margaritas at the market! 😉 xx