Plum Bars are a tasty way to use plums this summer! Made with fresh plums and a simple crumb topping, they’re a great summertime treat.
Three cheers for stone fruit season, especially plums! Plums aren’t talked about as much as peaches, but they should be.
You really can’t go wrong with crumb bars. My friends and family are huge fans of these mango crumb bars and cherry crumb bars, so it’s no surprise they loved this plum variation as well.
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
- A delicious dessert that features fresh plums.
- Can easily be made vegan and/or gluten free.
- Though they feature plums, you could technically use any fruit from the stone fruit family (hello peaches and apricots!).
Ingredients
This list is to provide further clarification on a few of the ingredients. The full ingredient list is below in the recipe card.
Flour – All purpose flour, gluten free baking flour or white whole wheat flour all work in this recipe.
Sugar – Preferably regular granulated sugar. If you’re looking for a less sweet option, try coconut sugar instead.
Butter – I don’t recommend using coconut oil or anything else really. Butter is what makes the shortbread crust and topping so delicious! Make sure the butter is cold before incorporating it.
Egg – Either a regular egg or a flax egg — either option works! To make a flax egg, stir 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed and 2.5 tablespoons of water together and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until the flaxseed has absorbed the water.
Plums – Be sure to use fresh plums, not frozen. Any variety works!
Instructions
Step 1: Make the crust. Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Then, use a cheese grater to grate the cold butter directly into the bowl and use your hands to mix until the butter is the size of small pebbles. Last, stir in the egg and milk.
Step 2: Soften the plums. In a separate medium bowl, add the plums, along with the sugar, flour and vanilla extract and stir to combine.
Step 3: Assemble. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. Then, add 2/3 of the crust mixture to the pan and use your hands to press it down. Scoop the plum mixture overtop and spread them into an even layer, then sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over top.
Step 4: Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake the bars for 30-32 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Allow the bars to cool in the pan at room temperature or in the fridge before removing and slicing. Enjoy!
Variations + tips
- Spices: If you want to alter the flavor with a minor tweak, try adding 1/2 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger to the plum mixture. Or, add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (choose one or the other, not both).
- Fruit: Use diced peaches or apricots instead of plums.
- Vegan: Use a flax egg and dairy-free butter.
- Gluten free: Use gluten free 1:1 baking flour.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
Enjoy these bars at room temperature, or warm them up and serve alongside some vanilla ice cream!
Can I use frozen plums?
Yes! Just be sure to thaw them ahead of time.
Storage
Refrigerator – Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Freezer – Wait for the bars to cool, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Place layers of parchment paper or wax paper in between so the bars don’t stick together. Freeze bars for up to 2 months.
More summer dessert recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
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Preheat oven to 400° F and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together. Then, use a cheese grater to grate the cold butter directly into the bowl.
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Use your hands to combine until the butter resembles small pebbles. Last, add in the egg and milk and stir to combine.
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In a separate medium bowl, add the plums, along with the sugar, flour and vanilla and stir to combine.
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Add ⅔ of the crust mixture to the prepared baking pan, using your hands to press it down.
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Scoop the plum mixture into the pan, spreading it into an even layer. Then, sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over top.
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Place the pan in the oven and bake the bars for 30-32 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool at room temperature. Slice and enjoy!
