8 of the best damson recipes

What is a damson?

Damsons are small juicy stone fruits and similar to plums size and appearance. These dark purple wild fruits are usually in season from late August until early October: find them on a foraging expedition or look out for them in farmer’s markets or at green grocers.

Unlike plums, damsons are on the sour side when ripe and benefit from cooking with sugar to coax their reticent sweetness out of hiding. Once cooked they have a gorgeous sweet-sour flavour and fruity fragrance.

What can I do with damsons?

Damsons can be prepared and cooked in a similar way to plums. They’re perfect for preserves, including jams, jellies and traditional damson cheese (similar to Spanish membrillo, which is made with quince). Stew them for compotes, crumbles and simple desserts. It’s generally not a good idea to eat them raw, as they are usually mouth-puckeringly tart.

What pairs well with damsons?

Damsons need sweetness, so get the sugar jar out of the cupboard! The resulting sweet-sour jamminess goes beautifully with creamy dairy: try damsons with clotted cream, churned into ice cream or in our soured cream tart. A little fragrance and spice also work wonders to enhance damsons as you cook them: think cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and star anise. On the savoury side, damson jelly and cheese pair well with a strong cheddar.

How to get the stone out of damsons

Getting the stone out of a damson can be a fiddly job. Many people prefer to wait until the cooking stage, especially when making jam, and use a wire skimmer or slotted spoon to carefully fish them out without losing too much fruit flesh; watch out for errant stones. Alternatively, you can use a cherry stoner.

How do you know when damsons are ripe?

Ripe damsons should be a dark bluey-purple. They will come off the tree easily when you pick them, and give slightly to the touch, but should not be squishy.

Can you freeze damsons?

Yes, you can freeze damsons. Some cooks actually prefer to freeze them first before pitting them as it makes it easier to get the stones out. To freeze whole, wash the fruits then spread them out in a single layer on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Once completely frozen, decant into freezer-proof containers or freezer bags and store for up to 6 months.

8 of the best damson recipes

Damson jam
Transform a glut of damsons into fragrant jam. Sour damsons are perfect for preserving: the jam-making process brings out their flavour, while the fruit’s high pectin content helps the jam to set. Damson jam will store for months in a cool, dark place.

Damson gin
A batch of homemade booze is a smart way to preserve your damson harvest. Our simple damson gin recipe can be made with vodka or tequila if gin isn’t your bag. Keep it simple or steep with added cinnamon, star anise and cloves to make spiced damson gin.

Damson and hazelnut crumble
This simple crumble has bags of flavour. The jammy damson and apple filling has a hint of star anise, while the crunchy crumble topping is full of oats, hazelnuts and ginger. A gorgeous pudding to usher in autumn.

Damson cheese
Damson cheese is a traditional ‘fruit cheese’ in the style of Spain’s much-loved quince paste, membrillo. This thick preserve is just the thing for autumn cheeseboards. Have a go at making the homemade caraway oatcakes in the recipe, too.

Damson fool with macaroon fingers
Whip up an airy fool run through with a magenta swirl of damson. Serve this pretty dinner party dessert as is, or with the delicate macaroon fingers in the recipe.

Damson and soured cream tart
This damson and soured cream tart is a popular annual treat for many delicious. cooks. “When the right time of the year comes around, this tart is a real treat and my whole family looks forward to eating it. It’s fun going out together looking for wild damsons or greengages and coming home to cook it,” says reviewer Verity.

Damson ice cream
Rich, thick clotted cream and sweet-sour damsons make the perfect bedfellows in this ice cream recipe. Scoop into ice cream cones or turn it into a simple dinner party dessert by serving the ice cream in pretty bowls or tea cups with a drizzle of  damson syrup.

Damson roly-poly doughnut puddings
Jammy doughnuts meet roly poly to make one epic pudding. Serve this hybrid of two retro favourites with the boozy Cointreau custard – leave out the liqueur or use our classic homemade custard recipe to make the pudding suitable for children and non-drinkers.

Loved these seasonal ideas? Take a look at our plum recipes, too.