Best 4 Original Plum Cake Recipes

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Indulge in the delectable flavors of the Original Plum Cake, a culinary masterpiece with a rich history dating back to the 17th century. Experience the perfect harmony of sweet and tangy flavors as succulent plums, plump raisins, and a hint of citrus zest dance on your palate. This classic recipe, passed down through generations, promises a moist and tender crumb enveloped in a crispy, caramelized crust. With variations ranging from the traditional English Plum Cake, bursting with dried fruits and spices, to the boozy tipsy cake soaked in rum or brandy, this versatile dessert caters to every palate.

Each recipe in this article offers a unique twist on the classic Plum Cake, ensuring an unforgettable taste experience. The Original Plum Cake recipe stays true to tradition, featuring a medley of dried fruits, aromatic spices, and a touch of citrus zest. For those seeking a boozy indulgence, the Tipsy Plum Cake is a delightful choice, with rum-soaked raisins adding a luscious depth of flavor. Gluten-free bakers will relish the Gluten-Free Plum Cake, which uses almond and coconut flour to create a tender and flavorful cake. And for those with dietary restrictions, the Vegan Plum Cake offers a delectable plant-based version, using aquafaba as an egg replacer.

Whether you prefer the timeless elegance of the Original Plum Cake or are drawn to the unique variations, this article has a recipe to satisfy your cravings. Embrace the sweet and tangy symphony of flavors in every bite, and create lasting memories with this exceptional dessert.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ORIGINAL PLUM TORTE



Original Plum Torte image

The Times published Marian Burros's recipe for Plum Torte every September from 1983 until 1989, when the editors determined that enough was enough. The recipe was to be printed for the last time that year. "To counter anticipated protests," Ms. Burros wrote a few years later, "the recipe was printed in larger type than usual with a broken-line border around it to encourage clipping." It didn't help. The paper was flooded with angry letters. "The appearance of the recipe, like the torte itself, is bittersweet," wrote a reader in Tarrytown, N.Y. "Summer is leaving, fall is coming. That's what your annual recipe is all about. Don't be grumpy about it." We are not! And we pledge that every year, as summer gives way to fall, we will make sure that the recipe is easily available to one and all. The original 1983 recipe called for 1 cup sugar; the 1989 version reduced that to 3/4 cup. We give both options below. Here are five ways to adapt the torte.

Provided by Marian Burros

Categories     breakfast, brunch, easy, weekday, times classics, dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup unbleached flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt (optional)
2 eggs
24 halves pitted purple plums
Sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon, for topping

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cream the sugar and butter in a bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and eggs and beat well.
  • Spoon the batter into a springform pan of 8, 9 or 10 inches. Place the plum halves skin side up on top of the batter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar and lemon juice, depending on the sweetness of the fruit. Sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, depending on how much you like cinnamon.
  • Bake 1 hour, approximately. Remove and cool; refrigerate or freeze if desired. Or cool to lukewarm and serve plain or with whipped cream. (To serve a torte that was frozen, defrost and reheat it briefly at 300 degrees.)

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 350, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 57 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 63 milligrams, Sugar 42 grams, TransFat 0 grams

LATE SUMMER PLUM CAKE



Late Summer Plum Cake image

Gently spiced, this jammy plum cake celebrates the summer-into-fall season. Serve it as a brunch cake or for dessert topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Provided by Jennifer Segal

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h20m

Yield 8-10

Number Of Ingredients 12

1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup milk (low-fat is fine)
1 pound plums, pitted and quartered

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. (Alternatively, the cake may be made in a 9-inch cake pan or pie pan and served directly from the pan.)
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low speed until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth. (Note: the batter will be quite thick.)
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Arrange the plums on top, skin side up, in a circular pattern so that they mostly cover the batter. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the plums.
  • Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until golden on top and set in the center.
  • When the cake is hot out of the oven, run a knife around the edges of the pan and then remove the springform edge, leaving the base in place (if using a springform pan). Let the cake cool on a rack completely. Slice and serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
  • Note: This cake keeps well, loosely covered at room temperature, for several days.
  • Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 344, Fat 13g, Carbohydrate 54g, Protein 4g, SaturatedFat 8g, Sugar 35g, Fiber 2g, Sodium 231mg, Cholesterol 55mg

DRIED PLUM CAKE



Dried Plum Cake image

No one will believe that this cake is made with dried plums. It came from my grandmother and is easy to make and delicious.

Provided by pamela

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Spice Cake Recipes

Time 1h35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups white sugar
½ cup canola oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup white sugar
¼ cup butter
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease and flour a 11x9-inch pan.
  • Blend sugar and canola oil together in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer. Add eggs, flour, prunes, allspice, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Add buttermilk, pecans, and vanilla extract and combine. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
  • While cake is baking, mix buttermilk, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract together in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until it begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Pour glaze over cake when it comes out of the oven.
  • Let glazed cake cool completely, about 30 minutes. Cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 518.1 calories, Carbohydrate 77.9 g, Cholesterol 52.3 mg, Fat 22 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 5.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 251 mg, Sugar 58.1 g

VIENNESE PLUM CAKE



Viennese Plum Cake image

"This is one of my husband's all-time favorite desserts," writes Lorraine Dyda from Rancho Palos Verdes in California. "The recipe was passed on to me by his mother, who was usually pretty hesitant to share recipes, but knew how much he loved this one. The cake is moist and tender with a streusel-like topping and is also good made with blueberries."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h20m

Yield 9 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups sliced fresh or frozen plums (about 1-3/4 pounds fresh)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
TOPPING:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts, optional

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well., Transfer to a greased 9-in. square baking dish. Top with plums. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over plums., For topping, in a small bowl, combine flour and sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts if desired. Sprinkle over top., Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until topping is golden brown and plums are tender. Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 327 calories, Fat 17g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 87mg cholesterol, Sodium 234mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (24g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

Tips:

- Use ripe, juicy plums for the best flavor and texture. - If your plums are very tart, you may want to add a little more sugar to the batter. - Dust the plums with flour before adding them to the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. - Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can make the cake tough. - Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. - Let the cake cool completely before serving.

Conclusion:

This classic plum cake is a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its moist, tender crumb and sweet, tangy plums, this cake is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you have a hankering for something sweet, give this plum cake recipe a try! You won't be disappointed.

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