Ingredients

• 50g/1¾oz butter
• 15 fresh dark plums
• halved
• stones removed
• 1 vanilla pod
• split in half
• 1 star anise
• pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 50ml/1¾fl oz water
• 100ml/3½fl oz red wine
• 5 tbsp golden syrup
• 4 tbsp caster sugar
• 190g/6¾oz plain flour
• 100g/3½oz demerara sugar
• 100g/3½oz butter
• softened
• ice cream or double cream

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 4.
• Heat the butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the plums and fry for a few minutes.
• Add the split vanilla pod
• star anise
• nutmeg and cinnamon sticks to the pan. Add the water
• red wine
• golden syrup and sugar and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes
• until the plums break down to a thick sauce.
• Transfer the plum mixture to a deep ovenproof dish.
• For the crumble topping
• mix the flour and sugar together in a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Sprinkle the crumble over the plums and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes
• until golden-brown.
• Remove and allow to cool slightly before serving with ice-cream or double cream.