Caramelized Plum Crostini Recipe

Courtesy of Tanya Milosevich

If you’ve ever wondered how to caramelize plums, this recipe is a delicious place to start! Sweet, juicy plums meet creamy ricotta and crisp toasted bread for a simple and elegant snack.

With our caramelized plums recipe, you can transform fresh fruit into a sweet, jammy topping that feels extra fancy for a day at the office.

Ingredients

• Juice of one Valencia orange
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4-6 plums, pitted and quartered
• Slices of baguette, toasted
• 1 1/2 cups fresh ricotta chees

Preparation

1. Prepare the Syrup: Put orange juice and sugar in a pan and heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Cook the Plums: Put the plums in the pan and cook until they are softened and caramelized (about 5–10 minutes).
3. Spread the Ricotta: Top the toasted bread with a smear of ricotta.
4. Assemble the Toasts: Spoon the plums on top of the ricotta and enjoy.

Prep time, 5 minutes; cook time, 5-8 minutes. Serves 4.

Tips & Tricks

• If your office break room doesn’t have a stove available, you can make a simpler version of this recipe by soaking fresh plum slices in orange juice, adding them to ricotta-smeared toast, and sprinkling the slices with sugar.
• Choose ripe but still relatively firm plums for the best texture. Very soft plums may break down too much during cooking.
• You can prepare the caramelized plums in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just warm them up before assembling the crostini.
• For extra flavor, sprinkle the finished crostini with a little salt, orange zest, or freshly ground black pepper before snacking.

FAQs

1. What are caramelized plums?

Caramelized plums are fresh plums cooked over heat with sugar or natural sweeteners until they soften and develop a glossy texture. The process enhances their sweetness and gives them a rich, jammy flavor.

2. What cheese goes with plums?

Plums pair beautifully with creamy cheeses like ricotta, goat cheese, mascarpone, brie, and burrata. In this crostini with ricotta recipe, the mild creaminess of the ricotta balances the sweet flavor of the caramelized plums perfectly.

3. Can I use other fruits instead of plums?

Absolutely. Try swapping in other stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, or apricots and caramelizing them in a similar way. They’ll make delicious alternative crostini toppings.

4. Where can I get fresh plums?

The FruitGuys delivers fresh plums and other seasonal fruits to offices and homes nationwide. Check out our office fruit boxes and schedule a summer delivery.