Best 5 Festive Prune Cake Recipes

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**Indulge in a Festive Treat: A Culinary Journey Through the World of Prune Cakes**

Across cultures and traditions, the humble prune, with its naturally sweet and subtly tart flavor, has captivated taste buds for centuries. It takes center stage in the realm of baking, particularly in the delightful world of prune cakes. These delectable creations, often associated with the holiday season, offer a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that make them a true culinary delight.

From the classic and timeless British prune cake, characterized by its dense and moist crumb, to the aromatic and spiced German Zwetschgenkuchen, bursting with seasonal plums, the diversity of prune cakes is a testament to the boundless creativity of bakers worldwide. This article embarks on a culinary journey, presenting a collection of enticing prune cake recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and fill your kitchen with irresistible aromas.

Prepare to be enchanted by the traditional French prune cake, known as "gâteau aux pruneaux," featuring a tender crumb and a generous filling of plump and juicy prunes. For a taste of Italy, try the exquisite "torta di prugne," a rustic yet elegant cake that showcases the perfect balance between sweet and tart. And if you're looking for a gluten-free option, the almond flour prune cake offers a delightful alternative, combining nutty flavors with the goodness of prunes.

Each recipe in this article has been carefully curated to ensure a delightful baking experience and an unforgettable taste sensation. Whether you prefer a classic, spiced, or gluten-free variation, there's a prune cake recipe here to suit every palate. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on this culinary adventure, creating memories and savoring the delectable flavors of prune cakes from around the world.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

PRUNE CAKE



Prune Cake image

This recipe is definitely from the South. We had a friend who used to make our family a prune cake every Christmas. When I make this cake, I always talk my father into cracking the walnuts out of the hulls for me. We pick up the walnuts in the fall and use them all winter long...the trees are everywhere! We have a 12-acre farm and are building a cabin on it.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 55m

Yield 12-16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup chopped cooked pitted dried plums (prunes), drained
1 cup chopped nuts
BUTTERMILK GLAZE:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine first seven ingredients. Add oil, buttermilk and eggs; mix well. Fold in plums and nuts. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until cake tests done. Remove from oven and punch holes in top of cake with a wooden skewer or pick. Immediately combine glaze ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly; pour hot glaze over warm cake. Cool in pan.

Nutrition Facts :

PRUNE CAKE WITH GLAZE



Prune Cake with Glaze image

This cake recipe was given to me years ago by a friend, who got it from her mother. I'm 82 years old, have been married 57 years and still enjoy baking this cake for my husband.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 18

1-1/2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pitted dried plums (prunes), cooked
1 cup chopped nuts
TOPPING:
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine first six ingredients. Add oil, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; mix well. Fold in prunes and nuts. Pour into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, 45 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all topping ingredients in a saucepan. bring to a boil and boil 2 minutes. Pour over hot cake. Leave in pan to cool.

Nutrition Facts :

PRUNE CAKE



Prune Cake image

This was the cake I asked my mother to bake me for my birthday each year. Most people would turn up their noses at any food with prunes in it, but oh are they wrong! This cake is wonderful. When my mother had to go to the nursing home, I found her recipe written in the back of an old cookbook. I was so excited and have been baking it ever since. In fact, then I started making it for her. By the way, I lost my Little Mama when she was 95 years old. She was a wonderful cook and passed it down to me.

Provided by GA Hole In 1 GAL

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Bundt Cake Recipes

Time 1h25m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 cup pitted prunes
½ cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ cups chopped pecans
1 cup white sugar
½ cup margarine
½ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons corn syrup, such as Karo®

Steps:

  • Combine prunes and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until prunes are tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a fluted tube pan (such as a Bundt®).
  • Mix flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, allspice, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Combine vegetable oil, 1 cup buttermilk, and eggs in a separate bowl; pour them into the flour mixture. Mix until fully incorporated. Use an electric mixer to blend in the drained prunes; the mixer will break them up a bit. Stir in the chopped pecans.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven until a tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove cake from oven and allow it to cool for at least 10 minutes on a wire rack.
  • To make icing, combine 1 cup sugar, margarine, 1/2 cup buttermilk, vanilla extract, and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for a full 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Invert cake onto a platter and pour hot icing over the cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.5 calories, Carbohydrate 73.2 g, Cholesterol 28.5 mg, Fat 37 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 5.8 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 335.7 mg, Sugar 51 g

INY'S PRUNE CAKE



Iny's Prune Cake image

I was fortunate enough to happen upon this recipe for my great-grandmother Iny's Prune Cake a few years ago.

Categories     Christmas     breakfast     dessert     main dish

Time 1h5m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

FOR THE CAKE:
1 c. Prunes
1 c. Sugar
3 whole Eggs
1 c. Canola Oil
1 1/2 c. Flour, Sifted
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Allspice
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 c. Buttermilk
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
_____
FOR THE ICING:
1 c. Sugar
1/2 c. Buttermilk
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tbsp. White Corn Syrup
1/4 c. Butter
1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees.Cover prunes with water. Bring to a boil and cook until soft and mashable, about eight minutes. Remove from heat, drain water, and mash on a plate. Set aside.Mix together oil, sugar, and eggs. In a separate bowl, sift together dry ingredients. Combine wet and dry ingredients, add buttermilk and vanilla and stir gently until just combined. Throw in the mashed prunes and stir gently to combine. DO NOT OVERMIX!Pour batter into buttered baking dish (9 x 13 or so) and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE OR INY WILL PADDLE YOUR BOTTOM.While cake has five minutes remaining, make the icing:Combine all icing ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a slow boil. Boil without stirring for 5 to 7 minutes, or until icing starts to turn dark. Do NOT allow icing to reach soft ball stage; icing should be caramel in color, but not sticky like caramel. Icing should be easily pourable.Remove cake from oven and pour on icing immediately.Allow to rest on the counter. Serve warm.NOTE: There is absolutely zero "prune effect" associated with this cake. The end.

OLD FASHIONED PRUNE CAKE



Old Fashioned Prune Cake image

This is a very moist and rich cake. A little troublesome, but well worth it!

Provided by WYJAC

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Coffee Cake Recipes

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup buttermilk
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup prunes, pitted and chopped
1 ½ cups chopped pecans
¾ cup butter
¾ cup buttermilk
1 ½ teaspoons dark corn syrup
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour Bundt or tube pan.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together flour, soda, salt, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine oil, eggs and 1 1/2 cup sugar. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed.
  • Add flour mixture, alternating with 1 cup buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. beat well after each addition. Stir in prunes, pecans and 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.
  • Pour into greased and floured bundt or tube pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.
  • Make large, deep holes in hot cake and pour topping in holes and on top of cake a little at a time, giving it time to soak in.
  • For the topping: In saucepan, over medium heat, cook butter, 3/4 cup buttermilk, corn syrup and 1 1/2 cup sugar until sugar and butter melt. Remove from heat and add 2 teaspoons vanilla and stir.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 701.5 calories, Carbohydrate 79.7 g, Cholesterol 78.4 mg, Fat 41.6 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 6.7 g, SaturatedFat 11.2 g, Sodium 438.1 mg, Sugar 58.9 g

Tips:

  • For a richer flavor, use dark brown sugar instead of granulated sugar.
  • To make the cake extra moist, soak the prunes in hot water for 30 minutes before using.
  • If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the prunes by hand.
  • Be sure to grease and flour the cake pan before baking to prevent the cake from sticking.
  • For a festive touch, decorate the cake with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a drizzle of glaze.

Conclusion:

This festive prune cake is a delicious and easy-to-make treat that is perfect for any occasion. It is moist, flavorful, and has a beautiful golden brown color. The cake is also very versatile and can be enjoyed on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream. So next time you are looking for a festive dessert, give this prune cake a try. You won't be disappointed!

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