Plum Crostata

If you still have any end of the season plums to make something with, I have just the thing for you! Ok, maybe I have more than one thing... like this balsamic plum crumble, clafoutis, or ice cream ...  but let's stay focused on plum crostata for a moment ;). This was my end-of-plum-season little treat and I was in 7th heaven enjoying it with some of this vanilla caramel ice cream.

Ripe juicy plums + a cookie-like crust, and a hint of maple, cinnamon, balsamic, and vanilla is all that's really hiding in this slice. Sometimes simple just makes the best eye candy. I couldn't look away once I sliced in, so rustic and homey...

Now to the important question... is this really a crostata? Or more of a galette? Or maybe a fruit pizza? A fruit pie? A fruit crumb cookie bar? The answer is entirely up to you. All I know is it's delicious, simple, and worth making.

I started off with a galette in mind, but by the time I was done somehow managed to unconsciously add a lattice top (and cookie cutouts for good measure -- no dough wasting!). That's when things took an unexpected turn towards very crostata-y.

But hey, not complaining about the extra cookie dough pie crust. Especially when it complements juicy, sweet baked fruit and cinnamon.

If you're grain and nut-free, I know I've been using this cashew and rice flour-based crust combo a fair bit lately, but I just can't help it. It's so simple and so good. But I get it if it's not your thing too -- check out the crust from this galette instead if you want a grain / nut-free option. It's an oldie recipe, but would also work great.

So for this crust -- feel free to decorate your crostata as you like. I made one version that was just cookie cutouts layered on top. Another with no top at all (just a border), and another one with both lattice and cookie cutouts (pictured).

It's not a super sturdy dough, if you were planning on doing fancy braids or the like, because it has that cookie crumble to it, but otherwise it gets the job done. Plus cookie crumble. My kind of heaven.

Enjoy!

Plum Crostata

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★★★★★ 4.7 from 3 reviews

• Author: Audrey @ Unconventional Baker
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 1 mini crostata (4 servings)
• Category: Pie
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: Dessert

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Description

Juicy baked plums inside a delicious cookie-like tart crust. This plum crostata recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.

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Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

• ¾ cup white rice flour
• 8 tbsp cashew butter
• 5 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp salt

Filling:

• 3-4 ripe plums, de-stoned and sliced
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp cinnamom

Optional:

• sucanat or coconut sugar for sprinkling

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Process all crust ingredients in a food processor until the mixture begins to form a ball (note if the mixture is too runny, add a bit more flour, if too dry, add a bit more maple syrup). Form the mixture into a ball with your hands and knead briefly, then flatten into a disk with your hands. Roll the disk out with a rolling pin between two sheets of parchment into a rough rectangle about a ¼" thick. Cut off the uneven edges to form a proper rectangle (save the scraps for the lattice).
3. Lay out the sliced plums on the dough surface in a design pattern of your choice (I just did neat rows of overlapping plums slices), making sure to leave a boarder about an inch uncovered all around.
4. Mix the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and cinnamon in a small bowl together (I used a pastry brush). Brush the tops of the plums with the mixture. If you have a bit of mixture leftover, set it aside.
5. Carefully fold over the edges of the dough over the plums (I usually lift the parchment paper underneath each edge and pull it upwards then fold over and press the dough down gently, then peel the parchment paper back down, to create an even edge).
6. Roll out the remaining dough scraps from the crust cutaways. You can roll it out and cut into strips, or simple roll it flat and use a mini cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Decorate the top of the crostata to your liking with it (I created some very basic lines for a lattice, and then used the rest to create thin stars to place on each lattice cross). Note: this dough is not super pliable, so aim for a simple design.
7. Brush the top of the crostata with any remaining maple cinnamon mixture. Optional: sprinkle with a bit of sucanat or coconut sugar. Carefully transfer the crostata (along with the parchment paper it is on) onto a small baking sheet.
8. Bake in a pre-heated oven for for approx 45 mins. Cool off on a cooling rack and enjoy with a side of vanilla ice cream.