2cupssugarmay need 3 cups, depending on sweetness of fruit
⅓cupAmaretto liqueur
1orangezest and juice
1vanilla bean
1bay leaf
1 tspallspice
1tspcinnamon
½tspsalt
Instructions
Simmer halved plums in roaster oven or on stovetop until soft (some people will use a crock pot which works, but just takes a long time). If they are dry you can add a little water.
9 cups plums
When soft, puree. I use a stick blender but you could also put them in the processor (messy business though)
Put the puree back in the roaster oven or pot over med-low heat and start adding the sugar, a cup at a time until it is the sweetness that you prefer. Stir in each cup of sugar until well-blended and taste, keeping in mind the Amaretto will be a little sweet.Add Amaretto
2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup Amaretto liqueur
Zest the orange into the mix and add the orange juice and the bay leaf and spices.
1 orange, 1 vanilla bean, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt
Simmer the mix over medium heat until it starts to thicken (this usually takes about an hour on the stove, less in the roaster oven because it is spread out over a large surface, and may take several hours in the crock pot).
Adjust spices, sugar and Amaretto as you go. Taste-adjust-taste-adjust....
This is how you will know it is ready: take a spoonful of the fruit butter and put it on a clean plate. Drag your finger through the middle of it and if it doesn't run back into the groove made by your finger, it is done. Ladel into jars and either water bath or refrigerate.
Notes
**Note: Fruit butters are very forgiving and easy to adjust to your own tastes. In the Fall, apple butters are popular. We also love a pumpkin and Grand Marnier butter made with heirloom squash!