A plum tart on a peach plate with an olive green napkin

When are plums in season?

UK plum season starts in August and ends in October. Plums are at their best between August and September.

Why we love plums

A seasonal stone fruit, plums come in many different flavours and colours. They're sweet with a slightly sharp tang and work wonderfully in crumbles, pies and cakes, as well as salads, chutneys and other savoury dishes. When looking for ripeness, give them a gentle squeeze – they should have a little give and not be too hard.

Health benefits of plums

Plums are packed with antioxidants which help to protect the body against disease. They contain lots of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, which help to support a healthy heart. What's more, they contain polyphenols which may help to lower blood sugar levels.

Varieties of plums

Plums are a seasonal British fruit and there are hundreds of varieties grown across the country. Japanese plums, with their red hue, are the type you would typically find in the supermarket but don’t be afraid to branch out. Look for varieties such as Victoria (classic plum colour and widely grown), Marjorie’s Seedling (blue/black late season fruit) and Warwickshire Drooper (small, golden-yellow fruit).

Damsons are excellent for jam and gin due to their slightly bitter flavour, golden Mirabelles are sweet and juicy, and greengages can vary between tart and sweet, depending on how ripe they are.

How to cook plums

Plums are a really versatile fruit to cook with. Use to add a tart sweetness in classic puds like plum crumbles, tarts or cakes.

For a simple dessert, plums can be drizzled with honey and baked in the oven until soft or alternatively you can stew plums gently on top of the stove with a little sugar and water. The cooked plums can then be kept in then fridge and served with yogurt for breakfast or ice cream for dessert.

Plums also go really well in savoury dishes and especially with Asian spices and rich meats like duck, lamb and pork belly. The tart flavour of the fruit cuts through the richness of the meat.

Best plum recipes

Plum jam

Use up a glut of plums to make this easy jam, great for using in sweet bakes or slathering on toast.

Then check out our blackberry jam and all our jam recipes.

A silver saucepan filled with red jam and a wooden spoon next to a jar of jam on a wooden board

Roast duck with plum sauce

Give your weeknight meals a twist with this Chinese-inspired roast duck and plum sauce – ready in under an hour but far from ordinary. The seasonal plums create a rich, sweet sauce that beautifully complements the duck’s rich, gamey flavour, making it a simple yet special dish.

A bowl of roast duck with green veg and rice

Plum and pistachio frangipane tart

Squidgy plums are paired with crunchy pistachios in this impressive sweet tart. If you don’t fancy making your own, use a shop-bought block of shortcrust pastry.

You'll also love our apple and almond tart.

Bee sting cake with plum

This bee sting cake with plum is a delightful twist on a traditional German classic, combining a rich, yeasted sponge with the luxurious flavours of vanilla cream and tangy plum compote. The cake’s brioche-like dough is topped with a layer of honeyed almonds, creating a wonderful contrast of textures and a beautiful golden finish.

A whole sponge cake filled with jam and cream with one large slice taken out of it

Sticky plum and earl grey ribs with plum and sesame salad

Make the most of seasonal plums by creating this rich plum sauce spiced with ginger, cinnamon and allspice to coat your dry-rubbed ribs.

Serve barbecue-style pork ribs next time you're entertaining.

Baby back ribs covered in plum sauce next to a plum salad on a baking tray.

Lamb with plums, green beans and cinnamon

This lamb with plums, green beans and cinnamon recipe is a spirited meal-in-one that beautifully showcases how fruit can enhance a savoury dish, making it ideal for late spring or summer.

Two bowls of lamb with plums and drinks on the side

Almond cheesecake with earl grey plums

The fragrant tea-infused plums lift the nutty base and vanilla filling in this baked cheesecake.

Plum upside-down cake

If you haven’t tried adding couscous to a cake, now’s your chance. Similar to polenta, it adds a gentle bite and is a great addition to this vibrant plum cake.

Be inspired to get baking with our autumn cake recipes.

OLI-0921-3WaysWithCousCous-PlumUpsideDownCake_04294

Easy plum crumble

Simple, yes, but delicious, too! Cover your cinnamon-spiced plums with a topping made from porridge oats, hazelnuts, butter and flour, then serve with clotted cream.

Love a warming pud? See all our crumble recipes.

Plum and fig leaf compote

Transform your harvest of plums into a glorious preserve this autumn. Add a young fig leaf to infuse the mixture with a further figgy flavour, along with notes of coconut and almond.

If you like this, you'll love our rhubarb compote.

Jar of plum compote next to a glass of yogurt and compote topped with nuts

Plum chutney

A classic spiced chutney to serve with cheese or cold cuts. The flavour gets mellower and deeper the longer it’s left, so give it at least a week before diving in.

Make the most of seasonal produce with our chutney recipes.

Plum cake

This plum and earl grey pound cake makes for the perfect afternoon treat with a cup of tea (earl grey, naturally). It's an easy recipe to make but it looks really good and tastes even better.

Asam boi sour

This Malaysian preserved plum cocktail from Med Salleh in London looks sophisticated and is surprisingly easy to make.

Plum, ginger and sake granita

Whip up a refreshing treat with this twist on a traditional Italian granita flavoured with plum, ginger and sake.

Roasted plums with balsamic blueberries

Turn the humble plum into something special in just 20 minutes with this sweet, syrupy sauce.

Baked Plums Recipe with Blueberries and Balsamic Vinegar

Sloe gin layer cake with plum filling

The best use of sloe gin. Team with plums and make a layer cake with wow factor. It's sure to impress your friends, and best of all it's an easy recipe, too.

Quince and plum crumble

Serve six with this unbeatable homemade crumble featuring plums and quince. These mouth-watering crumbles are cooked slowly for nearly four hours. Serve it with lashings of good, vanilla custard.

Marsala-baked plums with chantilly cream

Check out our simple recipe for juicy plums with sweet marsala wine and star anise. Topped with velvety chantilly cream, make this easy recipe for a midweek sweet treat.

Roasted Plums served with cream on a speckled grey plate

Dutch baby with spiced plums

Ice cream for breakfast? Yes please! A Dutch baby is like a giant, sweet yorkshire pudding and we've served this one with spiced plums.

Sloe gin and plum crumble

Our sloe gin and plum crumble is a twist on a classic and much-loved British dessert. Pair with a scoop of good-quality vanilla ice cream to really take advantage of the cinnamon and mixed spice notes.

Financiers with poached plums

This stylish dessert from London pub The Baring is ideal for a dinner party, as most of it can be prepared in advance. Serve with chantilly cream.

Financier with poached plums and chantilly cream on a white plate in front of a blue curtain

Plum tart

This tart is an easy treat for teatime and even pudding if there’s any left. Plums stay naturally juicy and sweet when cooked, and give a lovely tang against the almonds.

Tres leches cake with drunken plums

A double whammy of condensed and evaporated milk provides richness in this 'three-milk' cake recipe from Chiswick neighbourhood restaurant The Silver Birch. Reserve the liquid from the drunken plums to use in an aperitif to top off your meal.

A dark wooden table topped with a white plate, with a slice of cake, purple plums and edible flowers

Overnight plum and almond oats

Prep your oats the night before to make this quick and easy vegan breakfast for two. It may be low calorie but it'll leave you feeling satisfied and full until lunchtime.

Roast duck with plums and star anise

With crispy skin and melt-in-the-mouth duck served with rich plums, this recipe with star anise makes for a perfect Sunday roast.

Pulled lamb with plum sriracha

Check out our pulled lamb recipe with a sweet plum-sriracha marinade. This lamb is slow cooked for six hours for the ultimate melt in the mouth meat – serve in the middle of the table for perfect sharing food.

Plum and sesame lamb cutlets

Rosie Birkett's plum and sesame lamb cutlets are so good we put them on our cover. The delicious, sweet, sticky glaze with a kick of spicy sriracha works so well with lamb, and the spring onions add a crunch of freshness. They look fantastic and are sure to be a hit at your next barbecue.