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Sweet and spiced plum crumble bars with a crunchy buttery oat topping, perfect for a cozy dessert or snack.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 500 grams fresh plums, washed, pitted, and chopped
  • 100 grams light brown sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground star anise (or a small whole star anise for infusion)
  • 150 grams jumbo rolled oats
  • 200 grams all-purpose flour
  • 150 grams unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Instructions

  1. Wash, pit, and chop the fresh plums.
  2. If using frozen plums, thaw and drain them well.
  3. Combine chopped plums with 75 grams light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground star anise in a saucepan.
  4. Simmer the plum mixture gently over medium-low heat until thick and jammy, stirring occasionally.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine jumbo rolled oats, all-purpose flour, remaining 25 grams light brown sugar, and cold cubed butter.
  6. Mix the crumble ingredients with your hands or a pastry cutter until crumbly yet moist.
  7. Press half of the crumble mixture firmly into the base of a baking pan to form a sturdy crust.
  8. Spread the spiced plum filling evenly over the crust layer.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the plum filling.
  10. Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, about 35-40 minutes.
  11. Allow the bars to cool fully to set before cutting into squares or bars.

Notes

For enhanced flavor, roast plums with a drizzle of honey before simmering., Add chopped nuts like almonds or pecans to the crumble for extra crunch and flavor., Ensure plum filling is thick and jammy to prevent soggy bars., Substitute cinnamon with nutmeg or cardamom for varied spice profile., Use gluten-free oats and flour to make a gluten-free version., Replace butter with plant-based butter or coconut oil for a vegan adaptation., Add dried fruit like cranberries or cherries to the filling for tart sweetness., Swirl cream cheese or mascarpone into crumble for a cheesecake-like surprise., Store cooled bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days., Freeze individually wrapped bars for up to 3 months., Reheat bars in a 150ºC (300ºF) oven for 10-15 minutes to restore texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://gingerbaking.com/easy-plum-crumble-bars/