Classic plum pie with custard

Classic plum pie with custard

This traditional favourite is an ideal post-Sunday lunch pud

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 45 mins

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Method

  1. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and put a large baking sheet in to heat up. Put the plums, sugar and cloves in a pan. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and the plums are juicy, 8-10 mins. Mix the cornflour with a little of the juice, then mix well into the fruit. Boil for a few mins, stirring, until thickened.
  2. For the custard, blend the yolks and sugar. Heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a pan until almost boiling, then gently pour onto the egg mix, whisking constantly. Return to a clean pan and heat gently, stirring, until the mix thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Cool quickly, then chill. Custard can be made up to a day ahead and gently reheated.
  3. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a floured surface. Use to line a pie dish, letting the pastry hang over the edges a little. Fill with the plums. Roll out remaining pastry, about 2.5cm bigger than the dish, then drape over the plums. Pinch edges together well, then make a small hole in the top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Can be assembled up to 1 day ahead. Place on the hot baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown, and serve hot with the custard.

PER SERVING

681 kcalories, protein 9g, carbohydrate 75g, fat 41 g, saturated fat 19g, fibre 0g, sugar 42g, salt 0.77 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2008.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • Binder photo Mark's

    11 April 2009

    Mark's rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Left out the ground cloves. In future I'll use much less sugar in the custard, it was overpoweringly sweet

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  • Binder photo raynige

    22 July 2009

    raynige commented on this recipe

    Really easy to make, great for first time pie makers

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  • Binder photo Michelle43

    22 August 2009

    Michelle43 commented on this recipe

    I didn't have ground cloves, so I added 6 whole ones and removed them before adding to pastry. Also didn't add any sugar as the plums off our tree were so sweet. Easy to make and delicious

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  • Binder photo Michelle43

    22 August 2009

    Michelle43 rated this recipe

    4 stars

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  • Binder photo blossom

    10 April 2011

    blossom commented on this recipe

    I DID NOT PUT IN THE CLOVES AS MY FAMILY HATE THEM.

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  • Binder photo Debs

    17 August 2011

    Debs rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    easy recipe, kids helped aswell, didnt use cloves as dont like them but used tsp of mixed spice instead and tasted fab. might try it with puff pastry next see how it turns out overall great recipe and easy

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  • Binder photo MadziaS

    27 October 2011

    MadziaS rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    What a fantastic recipe! Easy to make, wowed my fussy dinner guests.

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  • Binder photo MadziaS

    27 January 2012

    MadziaS commented on this recipe

    What a beautiful, packed with flavours pie! My absolute favourite.

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  • Binder photo linguina

    16 March 2012

    linguina rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This is delicious! It was quick and easy to make. There's no amount for the cloves; I'm guessing 1/4 teaspoon?

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  • Binder photo Adlestrop

    15 July 2012

    Adlestrop rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    A bit heavy on the cloves in our view. Half a tsp quite adequate. And prefer a recipe where plums remain more solid.

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  • Binder photo RoseyP

    22 October 2012

    RoseyP rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Nice but nothing special. Cooked it on sunday for friends who came for lunch. Used the cloves as directed. The bottom of the pie was soggy and then the pie fell apart of serving. so not sure if I did something wrong?! It doesn't say to blind bake but maybe it needs it? The custard was lovely, very tasty, but went lumpy on heating through the next day. Again, not sure if it was something I did? Would make again for own use but not for friends etc, not special enough.

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 45 mins

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 900g plums , stoned and thickly sliced
  • 140g golden caster sugar , plus extra
  • tsp ground cloves
  • 1 heaped tbsp cornflour
  • flour , for dusting
  • 500g pack shortcrust pastry
  • 1 egg , beaten, to glaze

FOR THE CUSTARD

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 85g caster sugar
  • 250ml milk
  • 250ml double cream
  • seeds scraped from 1 vanilla pod
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PER SERVING

681 kcalories, protein 9g, carbohydrate 75g, fat 41 g, saturated fat 19g, fibre 0g, sugar 42g, salt 0.77 g

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