Crunchy spiced plums

beginners crumble dessert fruit make ahead plum plums pudd pudding star anise winter

N/A

Source

Ingredients

2 tbsp sugar

2 whole star anise

8 large or 12 small plums , halved

knob butter

4 Hob Nobs (biscuits)

custard or vanilla ice cream, to serve

Method

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix the sugar with 2 tbsp water in a baking dish, add the star anise, then pop in the plums, cut-side down. They should fit quite snugly. Dot with the butter. Roast for about 5 mins until the plums are starting to soften on the bottom, then turn them over. Roast for another 5 mins or until tender – this will depend on how ripe your fruit is.

Roughly crush the Hobnobs, then spoon a little on top of each plum half. Return to the oven for a few mins more until the biscuit topping takes on a dark gold colour. Serve the plums and their scented, syrupy juices with custard or ice cream.