Do you want to make your own damson cheese and get the most out of your plums? Preserving fruits like plums is a great way to enjoy them long after their peak season has come and gone. Whether it’s jam, chutney, or damson cheese – making homemade preserves can be rewarding with the right techniques and ingredients. In this blog post, let us look at everything that goes into making delicious damson cheese so you can start preserving plums in this different way in no time!
What is damson cheese and some reasons to try it
Although not resembling cheese in the conventional sense, this thick fruit-based paste was originally referred to as ‘cheese’ due to its texture and consistency.
A fruit cheese is a sweet preserve that is cooked for long enough that you can empty it into a mould so that it sets into a firm consistency allowing you to cut or slice it rather than spread it. Damson cheese is a traditional jam that originated in Lancashire, England. It’s a jammy sweet and tart preserve made with damson plums.
If you’re an adventurous eater looking for something new and exciting to try, This is a perfect choice. This fruit cheese has a unique flavour thanks to the distinctive damson plum.
This tasty preserve pairs perfectly with toast or scones and can add the perfect zing to your cheeseboard. If you haven’t tried it yet, there’s no better time than now!
The making of damson cheese
Add clean halved plums to water and bring to a boil. Then you simmer this until the plums have softened and released their juices and beautiful colour. Strain the mixture through a sieve collecting as much of the fruit pulp as possible. Then weigh the pulp to determine how much sugar to add.
Let the damson plum pulp and sugar mixture cook down to a sweet-tart jammy consistency. Making this plum preserve requires a slow and lengthy cooking process sto enable the mixture to reduce to reach its thickest possible texture. When satisfactorily thickened, you spoon into lightly oiled moulds or clean, sterilised jars, seal and leave to cool. Then store in a cool, dark place for weeks to months to allow the flavour to deepen.
Turn the cheese out of the mould and slice it to enjoy in many different ways. This is an old unusual way with plums that is quite wonderful!
It is easy to make and a revived creative way to enjoy the fleeting visit of damson plums. Although the process takes some time, it is worth it in the end. By following these simple steps, you can create your own delicious damson cheese. It is a unique and delicious treat that you won’t want to pass up.
TIPS
1. Select damson plums that are ripe and have a deep purple colour.
2. Remove the skins of the plums before making cheese for a smoother texture.
3. Use full-fat milk for the best results, or use light ingredients for a lower-calorie option.
4. Make sure to stir consistently as you heat your damson mixture to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan bottom. This is particularly important towards the end of the cooking.
5. Be sure to add sugar in small amounts while stirring until desired sweetness is achieved before moving on to straining and cooling down your damson cheese mixture.
6. You can consider roasting the plum halves with the sugar for a deeper, caramelised flavour experience. Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celcius. Arrange the damson plum halves in a single layer in a baking tin lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. Sprinkle half of the sugar over the damson plums and roast for 30 minutes until soft and caramelized. Allow the roasted damson plums to cool completely before proceeding with the recipe.
7. You can use moulds for the fruit cheese as it’s quite something to be able to turn it out of the mould and slice a wedge from it on a cheese board. An authentic fruit cheese experience. It can however be easily, and some may argue, more securely, stored by being spooned into clean sterilised glass jars sealed with a lid. Then when ready to be sued you will have to dig in and spoon some out.
A few ways of making damson cheese your own
- Include some complimentary fruits by substituting some of the damson weight with them e.g. add 500g blackberries + 500g damson plums OR, 500g cooking apple + 500g damson plums. Then continue the recipe as described.
- Add some plum liqueur to enhance the plum flavour. Or some brandy or whisky for something a bit different.
- Consider using some complimentary spices such as cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg – try for just a hint of these flavours so as not to challenge the starring role of the damson plums.
- Decorate with nuts when serving for a sense of occasion.
- Cut up some of the fruit cheese into cubes, roll it in fine sugar and serve it as sweets.
Suggestions about how you might use and enjoy this damson creation
1. Spread it on toast or crackers to make a delicious snack. It’s made to be part of a cheese board and pairs well with both mild and stronger cheeses.
2. Serve alongside roast lamb or chicken, game meats, cold cuts and pates.
3. Warm some in a microwave, add to a bit of yoghurt or cream cheese and turn it into a dip and serve it with fresh vegetables, pita chips, or pretzels for an easy appetizer.
4. Create unique desserts by baking damson cheese into pies, tarts, cheesecakes, pastries, and more!
5. Marry slices of fruit cheese with slices of blue cheese or a very mature cheddar for a superior cheese sandwich!
Recipe for Damson Cheese
Equipment
- Kitchen scales
- Chopping board and knife
- Large saucepan
- Long-handled spoon for stirring
- Sieve
- Ladle
- Funnel
- Clean moulds that have been lightly oiled. OR straight edged jars.
Ingredients
- 1 kg damson plums or other plums
- 500 g sugar
- 150 ml water
Instructions
- Wash the plums removing any stalks. Discard any bruised or blemished fruits.
- Cut the plums in half – you do not have to remove the stones as this can be difficult to do, but they will be strained out of the softened plums during the process anyway.
- Add the plum halves, with the water to your preserving pan and bring the combination to a boil. Turn down the heat and let it simmer gently for 20-25 min. The fruit will start to break down and become soft.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool for a while.
- Empty the fruit and water mixture into a sieve (the skins and stones will be separated out here); and use the back of a spoon to press all the pulp through into the bowl.NB: Now you must weigh the pulp to determine the amount of sugar to be added. You need 75g of sugar for every 100g of fruit pulp.
- Add the sugar and fruit pulp mixture back into the jam pan and stir well to mix and encourage the sugar to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil, while stirring regularly. Then turn down the heat to a steady simmer for 50-70 minutes.
- You must stir this fairly regularly to stop it from catching, and just about all of the time in the last 10-15 minutes when it will be quite thick. Think of it like a chutney now – it is done when you can drag your spoon through the mixture along the bottom of the pan and it leaves a clear track. It does not have to be too thick as it will continue to thicken as it cools. Just make sure that it does not burn!!
- When thick enough, take off from the heat and spoon into the waiting moulds or clean, sterilised jars.
- Cover the moulds generously with plastic wrap and allow them, or the jars, to cool completely at room temperature. Label and date them. Store them in a cool, dark place for 6 months – 1 year. It gets very dark with ageing, the plum flavour deepens and the texture smoother and almost melting.
- You can eat it as soon as it cools and sets, but leaving it for another 6-8 weeks allows it to settle and develop.Once opened, store in the fridge.
Notes
TIPS for making damson cheese
1. Select damson plums that are ripe and have a deep purple colour. 2. Remove the skins of the damson plums before making cheese for a smoother texture. 3. Use full-fat milk when making damson cheese for best results, or use light ingredients for a lower-calorie option. 4. Make sure to stir consistently as you heat your damson mixture to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan bottom. This is particularly important towards the end of the cooking. 5. Be sure to add sugar in small amounts while stirring until desired sweetness is achieved before moving on to straining and cooling down your damson cheese mixture. 6. You can consider roasting the plum halves with the sugar for a deeper, caramelised flavour experience. Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celcius. Arrange the damson plum halves in a single layer in a baking tin lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. Sprinkle half of the sugar over the damson plums and roast for 30 minutes until soft and caramelized. Allow the roasted damson plums to cool completely before proceeding with the recipe. 7. You can use moulds for the fruit cheese as it’s quite something to be able to turn it out of the mould and slice a wedge from it on a cheese board. An authentic damson cheese experience. It can however be easily, and some may argue, more securely, stored by being spooned into clean sterilised glass jars sealed with a lid. Then when ready to be sued you will have to dig in and spoon some out.A few ways of making damson cheese your own
- Include some complimentary fruits by substituting some of the damson weight with them e.g. add 500g blackberries + 500g damson plums OR, 500g cooking apple + 500g damson plums. Then continue the recipe as described.
- Add some plum liqueur to enhance the plum flavour. Or some brandy or whisky for something a bit different.
- Consider using some complimentary spices such as cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg – try for just a hint of these flavours so as not to challenge the starring role of the damson plums.
- Decorate with nuts when serving for a sense of occasion.
- Cut up some of the fruit cheese into cubes, roll it in fine sugar and serve it as sweets.
Suggestions about how you might use and enjoy this damson creation
1. Spread damson cheese on toast or crackers to make a delicious snack. It’s made to be part of a cheese board and pairs well with both mild and stronger cheeses. 2. Serve alongside roast lamb or chicken, game meats, cold cuts and pates. 3. Warm some damson cheese in a microwave, add to a bit of yoghurt or cream cheese and turn it into a dip and serve it with fresh vegetables, pita chips, or pretzels for an easy appetizer. 4. Create unique desserts by baking damson cheese into pies, tarts, cheesecakes, pastries, and more! 5. Marry slices of damson cheese with slices of blue cheese or a very mature cheddar for a superior cheese sandwich!Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
All nutritional information is an estimate only, based on third-party calculations derived from an online nutritional calculator, Spoonacular API. The data provided is a courtesy and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients and brands you use, your measuring methods and portion sizes. For accurate results, we recommend that you calculate the nutritional information yourself, using a preferred nutritional calculator or advice from a nutritionist, based on your ingredients and individual processes.