Vanilla Plum Shrub Recipe
This refreshing Vanilla Plum Shrub is a versatile fruit vinegar syrup made from ripe plums, brown sugar, vanilla bean, and apple cider vinegar. It can be enjoyed as a tangy, lightly sweetened beverage with club soda for all ages or mixed with spirits to create delightful cocktails for adults. The shrub offers a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and aromatic flavors, making it a unique and flavorful drink base.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: About 2 cups of shrub syrup
- Category: Beverage
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Fruit and Sweetener
- 6 plums, pitted and roughly chopped
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped, pod reserved
Vinegar and Serving
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar, unfiltered
- 12-20 ounces club soda
Instructions
- Mash the Fruit: Place the pitted and roughly chopped plums into a glass jar or a container with a tight-fitting lid. Stir in the brown sugar and scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the jar. Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, mash the plums thoroughly until the fruit is well incorporated with the sugar. Add the reserved vanilla bean pod to the jar.
- Heat the Vinegar: In a small saucepan, set over medium-high heat, gently bring the unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a gentle simmer, ensuring it does not boil vigorously.
- Combine and Infuse: Pour the warmed vinegar over the plum and sugar mixture in the jar. Seal the jar tightly with its lid and shake it a couple of times to mix the ingredients well.
- Refrigerate and Develop Flavor: Place the sealed jar in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours or up to one week. The longer the shrub infuses, the deeper and more developed the flavor will become.
- Strain the Mixture: Once the desired infusion time has been reached, strain the fruit mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container, pressing gently to extract all liquid and flavor while discarding the solids.
- Serve: To serve, mix equal parts of the strained vanilla plum shrub with club soda over ice. Adjust the amount of club soda to your taste for a lighter or stronger drink. For an adult cocktail, add your preferred spirit.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm plums for the best balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Unfiltered apple cider vinegar contributes a richer flavor compared to filtered versions.
- The shrub can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month.
- Adjust sugar quantity to taste depending on the sweetness of your plums.
- Vanilla bean pods can be reused to flavor sugar or saved for infusing other liquids.
Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/vanilla-plum-shrub-recipe/
