Plum Good Cake Recipes

PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9-inch tube pan.
• Separate the eggs. In a small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg yolks and the lemon zest.
• Stir together the flour and baking powder and then blend the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Gently fold in the egg whites. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. There will only be a little over an inch of batter. Arrange the plums, skin side down, attractively over the batter.
• Bake in preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool before serving.

GINGERY PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 23cm square cake tin with baking parchment. Butter the paper generously and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Halve the plums and arrange in the base of the tin in 1 layer, cut-sides down.
• For the cake, melt the butter, muscovado sugar and syrup in a large pan over a low heat, stirring until smooth. Cool for 10 mins, then stir in the eggs and milk. Sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices, then mix to a smooth batter.
• Pour the batter into the tin, over the plums, and bake for 45-55 mins until firm to the touch. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool. Will keep in the fridge, wrapped in baking parchment and foil, for up to 5 days.

PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch springform pan with butter.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and brown sugar, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each. Mix in the zest and vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan.
• Place half of the cut plums on the batter, cut-side up. Spread the remaining batter over the plums. Spread the batter into an even layer and top with remaining plums.
• To make the topping: In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and melted butter. You may have to mix it with your hands to get all the butter incorporated.
• Spread the crumb topping over the plums evenly.
• Place the cake on two stacked cookie sheets, to prevent the bottom from getting too brown during the long baking time. Bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes or until a tester come out clean. Cool on a rack.
• Serve it slightly warm or at room temperature.

PLUM CRUMBLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 22cm deep, round cake tin (preferably with a loose bottom) with baking parchment.
• First make the topping: put all the crumble ingredients in a bowl and rub together until crumbly.
• For the cake, put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, vanilla, ground almonds and soured cream in a big bowl. Beat with an electric whisk until smooth, then tip into the tin and level the top. Arrange the plums, cut-side up, over the mix, then scatter over the crumble.
• Bake for 50 mins-1 hr on a middle shelf until a skewer poked into the cake mixture comes out clean (plums will remain sticky, however). Cool in the tin for 20 mins, then finish cooling on a wire rack. Serve plain or with soured cream or yogurt. Keeps for 3-4 days in an airtight cake tin.

PLUM, LEMON & RICOTTA CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/ gas 5. Arrange the plums cut-side down in a single layer in a roasting tin, sprinkle over the brown sugar and roast for 10 mins until tender but still holding their shape. Leave to cool a little in the tin.
• Butter the base and sides of a 20cm springform tin and line with baking parchment. Tip the ricotta, caster sugar and lemon zest into a stand mixer and beat for 5 mins, or do this with an electric whisk. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the motor running, slowly pour in the butter, beating until fully combined. Add the flour and baking powder, and quickly mix just to incorporate - don't over-beat. Spoon into the tin, then press the roasted plums on top, cut-side up, and sprinkle over the hazelnuts.
• Bake for 50 mins-1 hr, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool until just warm, or fully cool. Serve with crème fraîche.

PLUM UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of a deep 20cm springform cake tin. Combine the butter with 50g of the light brown soft sugar and spread onto the base of the lined tin. Arrange the plum wedges on top in concentric circles.
• Tip the buttermilk, vanilla, oil, remaining sugar and eggs into a large bowl and beat for 1-2 mins using a fork or whisk to break up the eggs. Tip in the flour and bicarbonate of soda and mix until you have a smooth batter. Carefully pour this on top of the plums, then put in the oven for 45 mins to 1 hr until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin completely, then remove from the tin and invert onto a board or serving plate.