Sep 12, 2011

Plum Tart

The recipe for this quick and easy tart comes from the fifth edition of Joy of Cooking (Bobbs-Merrill, 1963).

Credit: Todd Coleman

SERVES 6 – 8

INGREDIENTS

7 tbsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1⁄2" cubes, plus more for pan

1 cup flour, plus more for baking dish

1⁄2 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt

6 tbsp. milk

1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg

1 lb. Italian plums or other firm plums, pitted and cut into eighths

1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 400°. Grease an 8" x 8" baking dish with butter and dust with flour; set aside. 

2. Whisk together flour, 2 tbsp. sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add 4 tbsp. chilled butter and rub into flour mixture until pea-size pieces form. Mix together milk, vanilla, and egg in a small bowl; add to flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. 

3. Transfer dough to prepared baking dish and spread over the bottom of dish; arrange plum slices in rows on top of dough. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over plums. Melt remaining butter and drizzle over plums. Bake until browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #126

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Ratings & Reviews (4)

by ginasaban on 2010-03-02

Recently made this recipe as we have delicious plums in season in South Africa at the moment. The result was good but I think the size of baking dish specified in this recipe is too small - I couldn't fit in as many pieces of plum as shown in the picture and the baked tart was more "cakey" than "tarty". I baked another one and used a bigger baking dish and it was perfect. I think it's a great basic recipe for fruit tarts, very easy and quick to put together and will definitely try it with other stone fruit in season and experiment a bit more with it.

by bsteedman on 2010-04-26

i've made this recipe twice now and both times its turned out very well. Its quick to make and cook. I agree with ginasaban that its difficult to get as many plums as shown, but I think as a basic fruit cake/tart recipe this is very good.