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Vanilla Bean Plum Butter

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It’s slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor.  This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot. 

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It's slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor. This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot.

I’m going to Costa Rica! Well, actually I’m going to Costa Rica on Friday BUT I figured it was about time I let you guys know. I’m so excited because I’ve never been there before and I just really want to cuddle a monkey. Do you think I can find both a monkey and a sloth to bring home with me? Do you think the cats would hate them?

Don’t worry. I know you can’t really bring them home. But I want too.

I mean, could you imagine a sloth just chilling on the kitty condo? Isn’t your heart just squeeeeeeeeeing? 

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It's slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor. This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot.

Since I’m leaving on Friday I’m currently in “OMG I NEED TO USE UP ALL MY FRUIT AND VEGETABLES” mood. That’s why I decided it was time to put my plums to good use and make myself some good old fashioned plum butter.

Use this vanilla bean plum butter in my vanilla bean plum butter crumble bars!

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It's slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor. This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot.

If you’ve never made homemade fruit butter before just know it’s crazy easy but take a little bit of patience. The cooking down stage it best taken low and slow because nothing burns more than hot bubbling fruit butter.

Please know that I know that from experience. I ain’t lying.

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It's slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor. This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot.

So really all you need to do is cook your fruit until it’s soft, puree it in your blender (I used my Vitamix!) until smooth and then cook down until you reach your desired consistency. If you want to keep the fruit butter for spooning over ice cream or spreading on toast cook it down till it’s thick but not congealed.

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It's slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor. This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot.

Don’t worry if you’ve never made fruit butter before. I promise it’s easy! Want even more delicious recipes to make with fruit? Try my Vanilla Honey Peach ButterSpiced Plum ButterStrawberry Freezer JamCarrot Cake Jam or my Vanilla Bean Strawberry Jam. Trust me, it’s time to get into the kitchen and use up that fruit!

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Vanilla Bean Plum Butter

This vanilla bean plum butter is the perfect use for summer plums. It's slightly sweet with a big punch of vanilla bean flavor. This plum butter is great slathered on toast, used in desserts, mixed with ice cream or eaten straight from the pot.

Yield: about 1-1/2 cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds black plums
  • 1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

Directions:

Cut your plums in half, take out the pit and cut the plums into quarters.

Add to a medium sized pot (I used my 4.5 quart Le Creuset pot) along with your dark brown sugar and water. Simmer on medium high heat for about 25 minutes or until the plums are soft and starting to fall apart.

Add the hot plums along with all the liquid to a high powered blender (I used my Vitamix) and puree until smooth.

Add the puree back to the pot, stir in the vanilla bean paste and cook down on low heat until the mixture is thick and the consistency of jelly. This can take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours.

Note: If you want to use this fruit butter for toast or to spoon over ice cream you don't have to cook it down super thick. However, if you want to use these for vanilla plum crumble bars you need to cook it down until it's super thick so that they hold together when you cut the bars.

Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Krystal

Friday 25th of August 2023

Is this recipe suitable for canning the plum butter?

nutmegnanny

Thursday 28th of September 2023

No, this is not a canning recipe.

Kimberly Ann Cahill

Friday 29th of September 2017

This turned out AMAZING!!! I have been stirring it into my oatmeal - swoon... tomorrow hoping my croissants come out (first time!) and I can spread on there!

Kathy at Eat Your Words

Wednesday 30th of August 2017

This plum butter sounds as delicious as your trip to Costa Rico sounds wonderful, Will try it!

eat good 4 life

Wednesday 30th of August 2017

I love plums and this is such a great idea to use them. I have never thought about making something like this. It looks and I bet it tastes divine.

Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

Tuesday 29th of August 2017

Right now I am trying to decide what I am going to eat this with first!

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