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    Home » Dessert Recipes » Stewed Prunes

    Stewed Prunes

    Last updated: Jun 17, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    Stewed prunes are so delicious. Cooking softens them, and they end up swimming in the most delicious syrup.

    They keep well in the fridge for several days, so you can make a big batch and enjoy a few of them daily.

    Stewed prunes served in a white bowl.

    Fruits are wonderful in their raw state, but I really enjoy cooked fruit. Some of my favorite desserts are blueberry compote, strawberry compote, and fried bananas.

    Stewed prunes might be forever tied in our minds to constipation relief, but they are actually delicious. Sweet and flavorful, they make a wonderful dessert or snack.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need four simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Prunes: Obviously, you should use pitted ones in this recipe. I like to use fairly large ones, but any size should work.

    Water: Some people use orange juice, straight or diluted. But I like to simply use water.

    To flavor the dish: Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. These really add a lot to the dish, so I wouldn't skip either of them.

    Instructions

    Making stewed prunes is so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    • Your first step is to place the ingredients - dried plums, water, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon - in a small saucepan. Gently stir.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Lower the heat to medium-low and gently stir again. Cover the saucepan, and simmer the mixture for about 15 minutes.
    • The last step is refrigerating the dish. This allows it to thicken. But you can certainly serve it warm, especially if you'd like to pour it over Greek yogurt.
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for stewing prunes.

    Expert tip

    Stewed prunes are wonderful when served warm, but you can also eat them cold, after being refrigerated overnight (or longer).

    The advantage of refrigerating them is that it considerably thickens the cooking liquids and makes them more syrupy.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are prunes the same as "dried plums?"

    They are. 20 years ago there was a marketing effort to rebrand "prunes" and call them "dried plums." I don't know if it succeeded or not. The package I have says "Amazing Prunes," so maybe they gave up.

    The thing is, prunes are truly tasty! They are sweet but not cloyingly so (unlike dates for example which are VERY sweet). They have a deep, complex flavor, and they have very mild sour notes to balance out the sweetness, which I find really nice. 

    When cooked they are especially delicious. Cooking softens them, and they end up swimming in the most delicious syrup. Just as important, making them is so easy. See the recipe card below. This is a truly easy, simple recipe.

    Should I add sugar?

    Some recipes add sugar or honey to the dish. I find it completely unnecessary. Dried fruits are naturally very sweet, and cooking them brings out this sweetness and enhances it.

    I do add vanilla and cinnamon, and those are indeed lovely additions. But I don't add any sweetener.

    Should I serve this dish warm or cold?

    Both are good. I typically serve it cold because I like to let it thicken in the fridge. But it's also good warm, especially when spooned over Greek yogurt.

    Variations

    One way you can vary this recipe is to cook the prunes in orange juice, as mentioned above.

    You can also cook them in water, and add orange zest or lemon zest to the water. This adds a nice layer of flavor.

    Serving suggestions

    You can simply eat these prunes on their own as a sweet homemade dessert, and that's how I usually serve them. You can also spoon them on top of plain Greek yogurt for a filling breakfast or snack.

    Storing leftovers

    The leftovers keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 4-5 days. If you'd like to reheat the leftovers, do so very gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.

    Stewed prunes served in a white bowl.

    Related recipes

    • Blueberry Compote.
      Blueberry Compote
    • Strawberry Compote.
      Strawberry Compote
    • Fried Bananas
      Fried Bananas
    • Chocolate covered strawberries.
      Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Stewed prunes.
    4.98 from 265 votes
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    Stewed Prunes Recipe

    Stewed prunes are so delicious. Cooking softens them, and they end up swimming in the most delicious syrup.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Rest time1 hr 15 mins
    Total Time1 hr 40 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 100kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INGREDIENTS

    • 20 pitted prunes (160 grams)
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Place the prunes in a small saucepan.
    • Add the water, vanilla, and cinnamon. Gently stir.
    • Bring to a boil (this will likely take about 5 minutes). Gently stir again, then lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, until the prunes are soft and swimming in syrup.
    • Transfer the stewed prunes to a heat-proof glass storage container. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes, then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This allows the syrup to thicken and flavors to develop. Serve alone as dessert, or spoon on top of plain Greek yogurt.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    Stewed prunes are wonderful when served warm, but you can also eat them cold, after being refrigerated overnight (or longer). The advantage of refrigerating them is that it considerably thickens the cooking liquids and makes them more syrupy.
    This is not a low-carb recipe. 

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 5prunes | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g
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    More Low-Carb Desserts

    • Keto mug cake.
      Keto Mug Cake
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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.

    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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