Damson cobbler

The Damson cobbler is a typically British dessert with American origins, and it consists of a kind of soft tart filled with fruit, in this specific case with Damson plums. Since this fruit might not be easily available everywhere, you could substitute it with common plums or another seasonal fruit that you prefer, perhaps adding an Italian touch with a sprinkling of cinnamon or a few drops of Amaretto liqueur. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 400 g of Damson plums or common plums
• 100 g of brown sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
• 2 cloves (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 200 g of self-raising flour
• 100 g of cold butter, cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing
• 150 ml of milk
• A pinch of salt
• Icing sugar, for serving (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.
2. Wash and pit the Damson plums and cut them into halves or quarters depending on the size. Place them in an ovenproof dish and mix with the brown sugar, lemon juice, and, if desired, the cinnamon stick and cloves. If you want to add an Italian touch, you could sprinkle with a dusting of ground cinnamon or a few drops of Amaretto liqueur.
3. In a large bowl, mix the flour and a pinch of salt. Add the butter and work the mixture with your fingers until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the milk, stirring with a knife to form a soft dough.
5. Arrange the dough over the plums in the dish. You can do this with a spoon to create a rustic look, or roll out the dough into a disc to cover the entire surface. Sprinkle the top with a little more brown sugar.
6. Bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the surface becomes golden and crisp.
7. Let stand for a few minutes before serving. Optional: dust with icing sugar before serving.

Curiosity

The word “cobbler” refers to the English term which means shoemaker, and it’s believed that the dessert got its name because its bumpy and uneven surface resembles the typical overlays of a hand-crafted shoe sole.

If you would like to pair a wine with this dessert, I would recommend a Tuscan Vin Santo or a Recioto della Valpolicella, both Italian dessert wines that match perfectly with the fruity and spiced flavors of the cobbler.