The Best Types of Plums for Cooking and Baking

While you may not usually think about picking up plums, you should know how incredible they are. Check out the best plums for cooking and baking.

You probably have a favorite apple variety, but you may not know which plum cultivar you like best. Whether you eat plums frequently or you’ve yet to try one, you should know the best types of plums for cooking and baking. They may not be one of the common fruits you buy or grow, but plums are incredibly juicy and delicious, making them a perfect addition to your diet and recipe rotation.

Best Plums for Cooking and Baking

Black Amber Plums

Black Amber plums are one of the most popular varieties at grocery stores, and they’re deliciously sweet. As their name suggests, these plums have dark outer skin, but they’re yellowish on the inside. Because Black Amber plums are typically firmer than other plum cultivars, they’re the perfect option for baking into pies and other desserts.

Mirabelle Plums

Mirabelle plums are small, yellowish fruits, and they’re an excellent option for cooking. Because this variety is intensely sweet, Mirabelle plums are ideal for various desserts and making jams or jellies. These plums have a very sweet but mellow flavor, making them comparable to the Santa Rosa variety.

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AU Rosa Plums

AU Rosa plums are members of a special group that thrives in the Southeastern states, which is just one of the reasons why AU plums are different from other plums . Auburn University students and faculty wanted to create a variety of plums that grow successfully where other types can’t; as a result, the AU series came to be. The AU Rosa plums are remarkably sweet, and their interior is extra soft and smooth, making them the perfect choice for jam.

Damson Plums

Damson plums are one of the more tart varieties, which isn’t the best for just eating; however, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good for cooking and baking. In fact, these purple-skinned plums are delicious when cooked down into jams or combined with sweeteners to create desserts like pies, cakes, crumbles, or cobblers.

Now that you know the best types of plums for cooking and baking, you can create the most delicious jams, jellies, and plum-filled desserts. While most varieties are great for eating on their own, you may find these types are even better when you cook or bake them into more complex dishes.

This story originally appeared in Cuisine Noir Magazine