On Mother’s Day my cousin, Pip, brought a plum cake to our family lunch. It was a fantastic cake that’s not only inexpensive to make but also extremely easy to create so I thought I’d share it with you. I did want to call this, ‘Pip’s Plum Pie’, because that has a good ring to it but alas, that would be inaccurate because it’s not a pie, it’s a cake!
Perfect with just a sprinkle of icing sugar and a dollop of cream
Here in Sydney it’s nearly the end of the plum season so unlike last month where plums in multiple varieties stretched along the entire length of the shop’s aisle, today there was just one small squished-up section with a handful of plums. I certainly didn’t have much of a choice and I did think these massive plums were a bit large for my cake but, as I didn’t want to wait the better part of a year to make this cake, I bought them.
Cake batter all sorted and now for the plums
As you can see in the image where the cake has just emerged from the oven, it’s a case of ‘the missing plums’. I can assure you they are there, it’s just being so big and heavy, they sank. Never mind, the cake will still taste the same.
The last of the plums for this season
Plums on top of the batter (but not for long)
This is a lovely cake that’s very quick to make, it doesn’t cost much to make, and it’s not too sweet. It’s perfect for an afternoon tea with the girls or equally, served as a dessert at a Sunday lunch. It doesn’t need to be frosted; it just needs a light sprinkle of icing sugar and a dollop of clotted cream on the side. I imagine this cake would work well with any other kind of stone fruit and when in season, I’d love to try this with apricots.
Where are those plums?
This can be a gluten-free cake if you use GF flour – that’s what Pip uses!
Plum Cake
- 200gms (70oz) softened butter
- 1 cup castor sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 1½ cups SR flour
- 1 cup almond meal
- 2 tbspns milk
- 6 plums (approx) washed, halved and pitted
- Icing sugar to decorate
- Clotted cream to serve
- Preheat oven to 180C (375F).
- Grease and line a 26cm (10 inch) springform pan.
- Combine butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl and beat until butter is as white as possible.
- Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
- Use a metal spoon to stir in the flour.
- Stir in the almond meal and milk and continue to stir until you have a smooth batter.
- Pour into prepared tin. Place plums, cut side up, on top of the batter (they will sink during the cooking).
- Place in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until cake doesn't wobble when shaken in the centre.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Place on a cake board, dust with icing sugar and serve with clotted cream.
Can be gluten-free if made with GF flour
Looks perfect for an afternoon tea
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Yarm! I adore plums. Does Pips version using the GF flour make it a little more dense? Do you think using regular flour is the reason the plums sunk? Gonna have a crack at this on the weekend, need a lovely and quick cake for a ladies arvo tea. 🙂
I love plum cakes and this one looks great. Might whip it up tomorrow with my stash of ( frozen) blood plums.
Sounds delicious – I love plum cake but I think I get dubious about any fruit cooking in a cake – yet yours look so soft and juicy
What a fab looking cake! The plums are long gone here, but this is a keeper for next plum season.
Beautiful plum cake and you make this recipe sounds so easy to make. Love that. Stone fruits will be in season soon and I can’t wait!
Those fresh plums look incredibly tasty & that plum cake looks even fabulous! Really appetizing & easy to make too!
This is a beautiful looking cake. I’ve never heard of plums in cake, though. Sounds tasty.
It’s beautiful! And so easy!! I will have to try this some time!! 🙂
We still have our plum season to look forward to, so I’ll need to save this recipe. But it looks so lovely! Plums really work well in cakes, and it’s been ages since we’ve made one. This is terrific — thanks.
This plum cake looks so incredibly moist – definitely no need for icing/frosting and I actually love the sunken pieces of plums!
One time a coworker brought in a plum cake and she wouldn’t tell me the ingredients till I finished my slice – well, it was so delicious and moist but had no pieces of juicy plums in it and when I looked puzzled, she replied that she had used a couple of pureed baby food plum containers! I am glad I didn’t know before I dug into it – your plum cake reminded me of the only “other” plum cake I have had!
Looks good to me. Reminded me of this nursery rhyme:
Little Jack Horner
Sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plum,
And said ‘What a good boy am I!'[1]
Those lovely plums are a delicious surprise once you slice into the cake. A good reason to buy plums. 🙂
Mmm, this looks delicious! I love easy cakes like this. I definitely want to try it.
Looks perfect Charlie . I went looking for the last of the plums the other day and found the same thing. Yay! you have easy recipe plugin.
it looks delicious!
That looks great! And you cut the perfect slice with those plums right in the centre too! 😀
I like the way the plum sank to the middle of the cake, so pretty. Plum season should be here soon and plum cake will be on the table.
How fantastic! This reminds me of something I had in Europe, somewhere, just can’t remember where. But it was delicious. 🙂
This cake was given a nice rhyme to it, while giving credit to the donor. Your recipe and instructions make it look really easy. I can’t wait till I try it and give that plum pie, er, cake a big bite!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
I love these sort of cakes- just sitting in Abu Dhabi airport on the way to the uk and it is making my mouth water.
Ooo, Pip’s got a winner with this one! Could go a slice with a nice cuppa right now.
Have a super day Charlie.
🙂 Mandy xo
I love the way the plums are layered in the middle of the cake. What an attractive side view when cut, and a certain way to make every bite delicious!
We’re a little behind the season due to that brutal winter we’ve had, can’t wait for plum season to try this pretty cake.
Ooh yummy Charlie! The photo of the cut slice is very appealing indeed 🙂 I always miss the stone fruit at the end of the season, I’m glad you gave them such a fitting and flavoursome farewell xox
What a gorgeous plum cake! I don’t think I’ve had one for ages and I thought Plums were out of season? haha or maybe that was peaches hahaha oops i’m not very good with my seasons lol
I will need to try and make this for my colleagues hehe!
This would be such a treat. And I think the plums are unexpected. I love the way you use fresh fruit that is also plentiful here in my climate. Plums are just starting to appear in the farmer’s markets so I’ll be aware. I’m baking your blueberry muffins this weekend to take as a little hostess gift as we spend time with my cousin and family. You swing from very practical and easy recipes, like the muffins, to that memorable and amazing Titanic cake. You’re a great resource for me, Charlie. 🙂
OMG OMG OMG THAT MEANS IT’S ALMOST PLUM SEASON HERE OMGGGGG 😉
This cake is gorgeous! I can’t wait for plums to be in season. 🙂
I bet this would be spectacular with all sorts of stone fruit!! Lovely cake!
I love it when Pip brings dishes because we can count on a new delicious treat. 🙂 Everyone in your family is so talented in the kitchen. It started with you, I’m sure.
Sorry I have not been around for a while, my subscriptions went wack! Love this gorgeous cake, we are getting so many plums these days 😀
Bookmarked!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I am a big fan of cakes like this. I love how you keep the plums halved, instead of dicing them up. This recipe looks so moist and beautiful! Hugs, Terra
I love plums in baked goods, and this cake looks really good! I just printed out and hope to try this summer. Thank you and Pip! 🙂
Oh my, I just love plum cake! In fact, I just made one the other day for my mother-in-law 🙂 Yummy!
Oh, just look at all those giant plum pieces… none of this nonsense involving the plums being all smooshed up or cut into tiny, indistinguishable pieces… this is what I’m talking about. Looks so pretty with the powdered sugar on top – thanks for sharing the lovely recipe Charlie!
Pure Plum Perfection.
Stunning cake. xx
The perfect cake for tea, breakfast or dessert! I love simple recipes like this, they are the ones you keep making over and over again.