Happy first day of Summer! It's strawberry season here in SW Ontario and time to start the first layer of Rumtopf!!!!
Rumtopf (Rumpot) is a great German tradition where you add fruit, sugar, and rum as each fruit comes into season - let is soak in the Rum goodness and enjoy as a topping for ice-cream, custard, pudding or cheesecake in 6 months time!
The recipe = weigh the fruit and add an equal weight of sugar. Let stand for 1 hour or until the sugar begins to draw juice and dissolve. I used 3 cups of washed, hulled and halved strawberries and 1 1/2 Cups of sugar to start the first layer. Put the fruit, sugar mixture into your Rumtopf jar or a crock and add enough rum (amber rum is best although I used white rum this time) or brandy to cover the fruit by approx. 1 inch.
I will be adding cherries, black raspberries (not too many as they are quite "seedy"), currants, lots of peaches, blueberries (even if they make everything blue), plums, pears and grapes as they come into season! At the very end I will add slices of pineapple and some pomegranite berries. Always add sugar to the fruit (approx. 1/2 Cup per Cup of fruit) and keep topping with Rum as needed to keep fruit under the liquid. Do not stir - let the fruit sit in layers. You can also add a few slices of orange and cinnamon sticks at the very end if desired.
Cover the jar/crock with cellophane wrap and/or a lid and store in a cool place (i.e. fruit cellar or basement) after adding each fruit of the season.
This is such a treat during the Christmas season! Who said Christmas on this first day of summer????
Till next time - enjoying Summa Summa Summa!
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Rosella, I have never made rumtopf and it looks so intriguing. If I don't have a basement or cellar, should I keep it in the fridge? And if I don't have a crock, could I put it in one of those jars with the rubber ring and lid that clamps down?
ReplyDeleteLovella - for sure you could use your glass jar with clamp lid. I think it should just be kept cool and not refrigerated. I usually put the final product (after 4-5 months) in the fridge while using it. All the sugar and rum keeps if from "spoiling".
DeleteWell this could be a very interesting summer project for sure. My crock lid glass jar is like 2 gallons though. That would probably be a bit much unless I give the stuff away as Christmas gifts... :)
ReplyDeleteHey Ellen - this actually makes wonderful Christmas gifts - put into small jars! Go for it.
DeleteWhat a fun tradition! I love the idea of using it for Christmas gifts :)
ReplyDeleteSounds delightful...especially the part about enjoying this treat of summer fruits at Christmas time. This is my first introduction to Rumptopf.
ReplyDeleteThis is the second blog within minutes here that has mentioned Christmas... it seems so far away.. yet we are half way there.
ReplyDeleteThat ice cream topping sounds delicious.
I started tonight. My jar is a 2 gallon. I do like those little jars with the swing tops and I think I will give them for Christmas gifts...
ReplyDeleteHow often to add a layer of fruit?
ReplyDeleteHi Ellen - I just add fruit as it comes into season. The next layer will be raspberries (I don't add too many of these however, just because they are quite "seedy") - after that come the blueberries and cherries and here I do like a double layers - because we love these. After that come peaches and plums - another favourite. Just use nice firm fruits and simply add as they come into season along with the recommended sugar and always topping up the Rum. Fruits that are NOT recommended are soft fruits such as bananas, watermelon, apples, rhubarb, citrus fruits. So cool that you are making this!!! I think my Rumpot is approx. 1 gallon.
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