A sweet tart plum pie is topped with a crunchy, nutty marzipan crumble topping and served with a dollop of whipped cream on top – the perfect way to top off a late summer meal.
plum and marzipan crumble pie

Sometimes real life is messy.

Your pies don’t turn out as pretty as they taste,

there always seems to be plum juice dripping down your chin just as your boss walks into the lunchroom to ask you a question,

and you seem to live under the constant threat of having your belongings forcibly removed from your apartment so that someone else can live there.

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Oh, you thought that little issue was resolved weeks ago?

Yes, well, so did I.

Until I received a notice under my door yesterday letting me know that someone would be coming to inspect my apartment today between the hours of 9 and 5.

Oh! I thought. I wonder what they’re inspecting. (<– blissful ignorance)

Ensues a flutter of emails between the student housing manager and myself in which he “reminds me” that I am, supposedly, moving out this weekend.

And I inform him that I am very much not.

As doing so would make me homeless.

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He still has not responded.

This does not bode well.

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All of a sudden the days when my biggest problems were messy pies and scraggly pie crusts and having too-juicy plums (<–THE HORROR!) don’t seem so bad.

For the solutions to all of these things involve a bowl, a scoop of whipped cream, a marzipan crumble topping, tart-sweet plum filling, a spoon….

…and not a single roll of packing tape.

Yes, I think I choose the former.

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So if you need me this weekend, I’ll be decidedly not vacating my apartment.

And eating all the pie.

I mean, it was a tough choice. But yeah, I’m definitely going with the pie.

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This pie. THIS PIE.

It’s a hot mess, but in the best way.

Extra juicy sweet tart filling. Nutty almond paste crumble topping. The ultimate in flaky buttery crusts.

You just can’t go wrong.

My plums were a bit TOO juicy, which I think accounted for most of the messiness.

But what is a little bit of messiness in light of so much plum-almond goodness, really?

Plum and Marzipan Crumble Pie
 
A sweet tart plum pie is topped with a crunchy, nutty marzipan crumble topping and served with a dollop of whipped cream on top - the perfect way to top off a late summer meal.
Yield: 1 pie
Ingredients
For the pie dough
  • 1¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 5 oz unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
  • 2-4 tbsp cold water
For the pie dust
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
For the pie
  • 2 lb plums, pitted and cut into ½-inch thick slices
  • 1½ to 2 cups sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 10 oz almond paste
  • ⅓ cup almond flour
  • 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter, diced
  • 2 tbsp sugar
Instructions
  1. For the pie crust, put the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Drop the butter into the bowl through the feed tube, pulsing as you do until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in the water 1 tbsp at a time, pulsing constantly, just until the dough starts to come together.
  2. Remove the dough from the food processor and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or overnight.
  3. For the pie dust, sift together the flour and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
  4. For the pie, put half of the plums and ¾ cup sugar into a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the fruit starts to release it's juices, about 10 minutes.
  5. Stir the raw plum slices into the cooked plums. Stir in another ¾ cup sugar and taste for sweetness. Stir in the cornstarch and let cool to room temperature.
  6. Roll out the dough to a 13-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Place onto a 9-inch pie, centering it. Gently press into the bottom and sides of the pan. Press the dough so that it extends ½-inch from the side of the pan, then trim the excess. Crimp the edges. Chill for 15 minutes, or until cool.
  7. Heat oven to 350.
  8. Sprinkle the bottom of the crust with 1½ tsp pie dust. Fill the crust with the filling. Paint the edges with the beaten egg and sprinkle with 1 tsp sugar.
  9. Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges start to brown.
  10. Meanwhile, make the marzipan crumble. To do this, in the bowl of a food processor, add the almond paste and pulse a few times. Add the almond flour and pulse to blend. Continue pulsing as you add the butter and sugar, stopping when it turns into pea-sized pieces.
  11. After 30 minutes, remove the pie from the oven and sprinkle the marzipan crumble over the top. Bake for an additional 35-45 minutes, or until the marzipan is golden and crunchy and the filling is bubbling. Make sure to check the pie frequently and tent with foil if the edges start to get too brown.
  12. Allow to cool completely before serving.
Notes
Adapted from Sweet
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 slice

For more summer pies, check out these:

ultimate cherry pie

Ultimate Cherry Pie

blueberry crumble pie

Blueberry Crumble Pie

blackberry mango curd pie

Blackberry Mango Curd Pie

From Around the Web:

Classic Blueberry Nectarine Pie from Country Cleaver

Blueberry Apricot Tart with Pistachio Crust from Vegetarian Ventures

Strawberry Pop Tart Pie from Willow Bird Baking

Drunken Cherry Galettes from Confections of a Foodie Bride

Strawberry Rhubarb Meringue Tartlets from Completely Delicious

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57 Responses to Plum and Marzipan Crumble Pie

  1. Sune Moolman says:

    I am so in need of a hot plum pie mess right now. This thing has me drooling!
    Hope that everything gets sorted soon with the apartment. Maybe you should bake them a pie? 🙂

  2. I mean, really, what is a pie if it isn’t ALL the messy, dripping down your chin? Basically, this one is perfect-a-mundo!
    And I am sorry about the apartmental issues…I seriously hope that gets fixed. My offer of an extr room still stands 😉 Pinned!

  3. Oh man, your housing situation sounds so stressful – I’m sorry! Crossing my fingers it’s resolved for you guys SOON.
    But in the meantime, this pie… A-mazing.

  4. This must have been delicious! Hope your apartment issues get resolved properly, once and for all 🙂

  5. What the?! That’s such a strange situation to be in. Stand your ground! And yes, eat all the pie.

  6. Julia says:

    Oh girl…what a terrific pain in the hinny…I’m sorry you’re having to go through all the moving bs. Wish I could be there to eat all the pies with you, decidedly stay put, and drink all the margaritas. Strap yourself to that apartment, my dear! Okay, maybe that’s not the best approach, but I am sending my good juju your way and hope it all works out as smoothly as possible.

  7. Messiness is required with pie eating!! Just wish I have that marzipan topping! Pie twins 🙂 and what’s with these housing people? Give them pie tomorrow!

  8. Leah Davis says:

    haha I agree – give the apartment people pie and they will be quiet!! I’ve never baked with plums but I think I am going to have to give it a go! Yum!!

  9. Oh my… hope everything works out with the apartment! Plum desserts are my fave and this looks incredible!!

  10. Deena kakaya says:

    Lovely to see crumbles in the summer and with marzipan, oof! X

  11. That sounds super frustrating! I hope you can get everything worked out!

  12. debbie says:

    Hope things work out regarding your apartment. Now that is a hot mess!!! The pie looks good regardless being a mess or not. Whipped cream is perfect with it!

  13. Fruit with yummy butter stuff on top solves all of life’s problems. I love everything you bake!

  14. OOOOMMMMGGGG! This sounds like the most amazing summer dessert as I am hopelessly addicted to marzipan. But OMG— I hope your housing situation gets resolved! XOXO!

  15. Emma says:

    Whaaat?! That doesn’t sound fun! At least you found a great solution- pie!
    Isn’t marzipan the most delicious thing?!

  16. Feed me any kind of crumble and I’m going to be your very best friend, but add marzipan and really that just sends it off the deliciousness scale.
    Good for you for standing your ground over this apartment thing. I think I need to check out your previous post to get the whole story! 🙂

  17. Heather says:

    Pie during stressful situations is the only way to go. I hope your apartment struggles get figured out… what a pain!!

  18. I hope you’ve got people coming to share your sit-in! That’s ridiculous – although from other people’s stories I am starting to realise that university-affiliated housing is a bit of a nightmare at this change-over season.

    Your pie looks brilliant and I happen to have some marzipan in the cupboard…

  19. Beth says:

    Out of all the delicious posts I’ve seen in my life, this is possibly the most delicious. Can I help you apartment-sit this week, and share some of your pie?

  20. Where there is pie, there is juicy messiness and no one should be complaining ’cause that kind of a mess is TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE! This pie looks FREAKING GORGEOUS {do I need to mention DELISH?} 😉 I’m so so sorry about all the apartment problems you are having! I’m sure sending that manager this pie will make sure they don’t annoy you next time!

  21. I want to swan dive right into this pie situation. Goodness.

    Also, I am rooting for you over here that you win out with this ridic apartment thing. Mi casa es su casa if you need a place to stay (um, like many miles away, but still. ;))!

  22. All of this pie sounds fantastic, but marzipan crumble topping fills me with so much excitement I almost can’t stand it. I might be joining you in the pie eating this weekend…

    I also very much hope the apartment issue is sorted out 🙁

  23. A little bit of messiness means a whole lotta deliciousness. This pie belongs in my mouth.

  24. How stressful! Sounds like you needs this pie to get through some days!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  25. Veronica says:

    I loooove almond paste in a crumble. Love love love. I’m dying for this now. I have two cans of plums and although it might be sacrilege to use them in such a glorious recipe instead of fresh, I just might have to. I hope you’ll update on what happens with your apartment – obvs you’ll keep it…I mean right? Right.

  26. The colors of this crumble are GORGEOUS!! I love plums, I feel like they are an under-appreciated fruit in the dessert world too! Wish I had a big bowl of this!

  27. alyssa says:

    That is so insane Joanne! I hope that they get it figured out STAT and that when you guys do have to move, you have a decent amount of notice. This plum crumble has inspired me – we have about 50 plums in our kitchen from my husband’s friend’s plum tree that I have been wondering what to do with!

  28. Oh dear! I hope things get sorted out soon.. Hopefully this amazing pie helped a bit!! 🙂
    its looks delicious!! and that crumb just WOW!!

  29. This looks so luscious. The plumps are so juicy…I need a coupe of these bowl right about now!!

  30. This is the best-looking pie mess I’ve ever seen in my life. Sometimes the most unphotogenic food is just tastier, right?! I need all those gorgeously juicy plums in my life. STAT. 😀

  31. A fantastic pie mess, Joanne. Those plums are so juicy!

  32. Isadora says:

    Oh no! That does sound like an awful problem! I hope everything gets worked out and that you are not reading this comment while homeless on the streets!! Pie does make everything better though, so I hope you had a huge slice of this pie, I know that that is what I want to be eating right now!

  33. Kelly says:

    I love pie mess, the messier the better and this one looks perfect! I’m so sorry about your housing issues, I seriously hope everything works out…maybe it’s just an excuse and they really want some of the pies you’ve been making.

  34. Kate says:

    Good luck this weekend.

  35. In my opinion, if you just don’t pack and leave then the apartment is still yours!

    And messy delicious pies are more than ok.

  36. Hotly Spiced says:

    Oh dear, that seems very stressful. Why are they wanting you to move out if they’re only after another tenant? What’s wrong with the tenant they already have? It seems like madness to me. I’d be eating more than this pie if that was me – I’d be looking for something with a rather high alcohol content xx

  37. Johanna GGG says:

    Can you please come and bake for me when I am getting unreasonable demands to leave my home – I would definitely prefer pie over packing tape – good luck

  38. I love the messiness of this pie – just makes it look all the more rustic and delicious! Good luck with your apartment situation!!

  39. grace says:

    i’ve NEVER baked with plums, and i have no idea why! i love to eat them raw and i’m sure i’d love them like this. gorgeous photos and great recipe. 🙂

  40. Now, that’s my kind of hot mess! It’s Saturday, and I hope you’re not homeless!

  41. Christine says:

    Love your bowl of pie. Very yummy-looking. I’d be a wreck about finding a new place to live. What about your lease? I think the.boy. should practice some of his lawyering on the manager. Just my 2 cents : /

  42. Yikes good luck with the apartment situation!

  43. Messy pies are the best kind! I hope you are still living blissfully in your apartment. I eagerly await and update this week.

  44. Hope your apartment situation is ok after the weekend! In the meantime, what a beautiful pie!

  45. Oh no 🙁 I am so sorry you’re going through all this stress. So impressed you managed to cook this beautiful pie amid this mess!

  46. I love crumble pies way more than traditional. I’ve never seen a plum pie, my mouth is puckering at the thought of spooning this into my mouth. OX

  47. yeah, I say don’t leave. Nobody likes packing their own things let alone somebody else’s. Good luck. Hope the pie carries you though!

  48. I have never baked with plums before. Wow, this pie looks amazing and it is making me want to rush out and buy some plums just so I can bake this. I hope that you issues with your apartment get resolved.

  49. Katerina says:

    I love plums and this crumble is right up my alley!

  50. daphne says:

    This hot plum “mess” looks so hearty and warm to me.. i need it for this cold winter! The colour is so vibrant!
    and hope that the apartment thing gets sorted soon Joanne! keep us updated.

  51. Reeni says:

    Plum messiness is a totally good thing! Especially when topped with crumble. And marzipan, that thing I really, really love but never have enough of in my life. Hope everything worked out!

  52. Lynna says:

    omg…I hope your housing situation will work out SOMEHOW in the end!! D: That`s scary.

    And yes, not all pies will turn out perfect looking, but they always seem to taste great!

  53. […] on the menu was a smoky corn frittata, heirloom tomato and ricotta tartines, and a little plum pie you might remember from days of […]

  54. elly says:

    I am obsessed with this. I hope we are going somewhere or have people over on Labor Day so I can make it (otherwise i will eat the whole thing myself…). I LOVE plums. And marzipan, too? Heaven.

  55. Now THAT is my kind of mess! Drooooooling over here!

  56. […] Miam! Toute recette qui contient de la pâte d’amandes quelque part est forcément bonne, non? […]

  57. Foodiewife says:

    You had me at marzipan. But you also had me at homeless. I sure hope this living mess gets straightened out fast. I’m so sorry. I can see why you’d want to eat the whole thing– it looks fab, and it’s a good way to get your mind off the housing situation. Crossing fingers for you..

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