My grandma’s small farm had a small orchard. A few apricot trees, few apples trees and mostly plum trees.
Several types of plum trees. Some plums ripen during the summer months, some later during the fall.
My favorite ones were the Italian plums. Somehow round, juice and easy to have their stones removed. We had only one Italian plum tree. Well, we still do.
The plums were used to make preserve and cake. Plum cake was so often made in our kitchen everyone learned how to make it, but somehow, with the abundance of cookbooks, food magazines and simple online search the cake got buried under the pile of new tried recipes, pages torn out of magazines, torn cookbooks.
There was nothing spectacular about this cake, a simple sponge cake with big chunks or quarters of plums mixed in the batter.
But it was comforting.
We would gather at my grandma’s house Sunday after the church service and have a big lunch and spend a wonderful afternoon spent with family, laughing, catching up, enjoying good food and a glass of wine from our vineyard and of course, cake.
Browsing through my favorite bread cookbook for inspiration I stumbled upon a yeast plum cake. My mind immediately went back couple of years to out family gatherings.
It wasn’t my family’s plum cake. It was not a sponge cake like the one I knew.
This one called for a yeast and the plums were added on top of the cake.
Now, as you know me I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to yeast. I love trying new things and enrich my baking portfolio.
To make this cake is a little time consuming although I used Red Start PLATINUM instant yeast, but I let the dough has its first rise in the fridge and it took it about 3 hours to double in volume.
While baking the plums start to soften, the juices form a sugary coat on top of the cake and some even run on the sides trapping the moisture inside.
The cake is light, airy and sweet.
A light, airy, sweet yeast cake topped with juice plums. A wonderful dessert enjoying the fall fruit.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cup (300 grams) all purpose flour
- 1 tsp Red Star PLATINUM yeast
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp (56 grams) melted but cooled butter
- 1/2 cup lukewarm milk
- 10-12 plums
- 1-2 tbsp raw sugar
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. With a hand whisk stir until combined.
- Now add the egg, melted butter and milk.
- With the dough hook on start mixing until the dough comes together and it cleans itself from the sides of the bowl and it's soft and elastic.
- Take the dough out, place it in a greased bowl, cover with plastic foil and place it in the fridge for few hours until double in volume.
- When the dough has risen, take it out and knead it for few seconds.
- Place it in an 11X7 greased baking pan and flatten it.
- Cover and let rise again at room temperature.
- Meanwhile quarter the plums and heat the oven to 375F.
- When the dough doubled in volume again, top it with the quartered plums, sprinkle some raw sugar on top and bake for 45-50 minutes.
- Leave to cool slightly in the pan before cutting it.
Sending love your way,
Roxana
This recipe is linked to Jen’s Kicthen Bootcamp, Heather’s Bake your own bread an Susan’s Yeastspotting round-ups
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
What great memories of your family. This cake would be perfect for sitting on a Sunday and catching up with family and friends!
This looks spectacular! You are a baking queen!
This cake is gorgeous!!! I mean wow!
Looks yummy and inviting. Can i use something else instead of eggs.
Thanks
Hi Rashmi,
If you don’t want to use the egg, just skip it. You’ll have to play around with the quantity of flour vs milk.
This is such a beautiful cake, Roxana! I love the plum topping.
This looks scrumptious, Roxana!
I’d call this a memory cake and it looks delicious!
Wow. This cake looks fantastic! The plums on top look devilishly delicious.
This plum cake looks awesome! I dont think I’ve ever had anything like it
Oh, such a wonderful cake! I’ve been longing to bake with plums, and now I have no excuse not to!
Absolutely stunning! What a wonderful cake, Roxana!
Such a gorgeous presentation! I’m going to give it a try. Thank you
Roxana, this cake looks amazing. You have a plum tree? Jealous!
oh my roxie! i can always count on you to present us with such uniquely fabulous flavored cakes… i haven’t ever tried a plum cake but i sure as heck want to right now.
i also can’t stop admiring your photographs… beautiful
Roxana, Terrific memories endure from Grandma’s farm, and what a delicious homage with this lovely plum cake. Another solid recipe with Platinum yeast…I’m going to have to try it out!
I think plum tastes much better when it’s being baked. Your cake looks gorgeous!
Beautiful plum cakes, I just love the color of the plum slices;-) It’s a wonderful thing to have such vivid memories of good family times, thanks for sharing;-)
Roxana it’s the simple cakes dressed up that look and taste so fantastic. Beautiful photos that make me want to run to the store and get me some plums for this cake!
What a stunning cake! Love the plums on the top with the drizzle coming down the cut pieces! Pinning now!!
Those plums are popping out of the page. I love their vibrant color and I’m sure the taste matches its looks.
Italian plums are so pretty and are my favorite. I love a simple fruit cake just like this any time of the year.lovely:)
This cake is beautiful!!!
I love plum cakes; my Mum used to make similar cake ( with baking powder).
I loved hearing about your grandmother’s farm and your memories there. I love spending time with family, eating and enjoying. This cake is fabulous! I adore plums yet I rarely bake with them but this cake makes me want to.
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