I couldn’t resist the perfectly ripe, cheap plums at my local greengrocer’s this week, especially as I couldn’t stop thinking about this Smitten Kitchen cake. Intriguing as the idea of a yeasted cake was, the idea of waiting a few hours before actually eating said cake was decidely less appealing. So I left trying a new recipe for another time and threw together a simple vanilla almond sponge to spread over my plum slices.
There’s been much commiseration on twitter between those of us not going to Sock Summit this weekend and cake seems to be the thing that everyone feels will make not being there just a little bit better. And so, whatever you’re planning – try and squeeze in some cake and knitting, I promise it’s super easy to make and so delicious. I just ate the last of it, and while I haven’t totally rejected the idea of licking the plum syrup from the inside of the empty tin I’m also contemplating making another one. It even goes rather nicely with another new design (remember the prototype from when I was in Chicago?).
Upside down plum cake
4oz / 115g / 1/2 cup butter, melted
4oz / 115g / 1 cup plain flour
2oz / 55g / 1/2 cup ground almonds
3tsp baking powder (or use self raising flour)
4oz / 115g / 1/2 cup + 2tbsp brown sugar
3oz / 85g / 1/3 cup greek yoghurt
2 eggs
Vanilla extract
4 plums sliced, I actually found myself wishing this had more fruit though so it might be even better with 6.
Mix together all of the dry ingredients, leaving aside 2 tbsps of the sugar. Add the 3/4 of the butter, the beaten eggs, yoghurt and a generous splash of vanilla extract to the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
Pour remaining butter into 9″ round, spring release tin (at least that’s what I used) and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Arrange plum slices in base of tin and cover with the cake mixture. Bake at 180〫c / 355〫f until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (unless you poke it to far in in which case it will have plum goo attached, but as long as there’s no goo left in the cake section it’s good).
Enjoy!
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
What a tease! Plummy goodness indeed – that looks a lot like Malabrigo sock in Eggplant, and I have already started another project using my last skein… why didn’t I wait?!
I’m commiserating with you about not being at SS. Cake makes everything better though!
so, that explains my urge to bake blueberry cake yesterday! i certainly would like to be at sock summit. i will cast on a pair of socks in order to participate from afar… and eat cake!
the shawl is beautiful!
That shawl is lovely. :)
love the shawl-especially the colour and the technical term goo has got me giggling :D
Since I can’t get to SS either, I’ll have to try your cake!! Thank you for the recipe. :)
The shawl is amazing, what a perfect project to bring when traveling!
Might try this with all the yellow stickered rhubarb we picked up from the supermarket on Tuesday.
Will definitely have to try this cake as it looks absolutely scrummy.
That’s a good idea. I too was very inspired by Smitten Kitchen’s gorgeous plum cake, but I’m so far afraid of yeast, so I’ll definitely try your version. Yum.
Holy frijoles, that looks yummy. I must say, though, that I’ve never encountered a cheap plum in my entire life. What a wonder. I’m so jealous!
Maybe I’ll try this with some strawberries. Mmmmm….
The shawl is lovely, too, and would coordinate so nicely with the cake. Have they met, the shawl and the cake?
I have never had a plum before, but between your cake and the one you linked, I feel this sudden urge to do so and NOW.
The shawl isn’t half bad either. ;)
Thanks for the link to Smitten Kitchen – a great site! I stopped by to buy your book.
Oooo, that looks scrumptious. There will be lots of baking this week, I’m putting this on the list. Looks as soothing as the shawl does. :-)
Ooh, that looks yummy! And what a perfect solution to the overabundance of plums from the tree in the garden!
YUM -that looks fabulous!!
Tanya
Haha, i thought that “Upside Down Plum Cake” was the name of your new pattern…
man…i wish i had both the time and where-with-all to bake! the shawl is super pretty.
(And man, do I owe you an email! soon, I promise!)
Thank you for the recipe! I must try this.
I love that you mentioned one of my favorite cooking blogs. Knitting and eating are my favorite things.
I’m sad about not being at the Sock Summit too but I’m going out to eat crabs with my sister to get over it. Maybe we’ll go out for cake too.
Ooh plum cake. This reminds me I was planning to email my mum for her German plum-cake recipe! Also nice shawl:)
Ooh, that shawl is all the eye candy I need! I do hope you release the pattern soon!!!
Both your new design and the plum cake look yummy!!!
Both cake and shawl look scrumptious! Roughly how long does the cake take to bake? I’m going to make one as soon as I have ripe plums!
Thank you for the recipe! Will give it a try this weekend. Beautiful shawl too!
Thank you for the recipe, have to try it ;) Beautiful shawl!!!
I just made the cake last night, but with pears… Wonderful!
cake can make one feel better about almost anything. including not being in portland at the summit right this instant. i’m glad i’m not alone in wishing i could be there.
i’m off to buy cake ingredients.
Sigh- I had plans to go to the Sock Summit, but had to cancel at the last minute due to unforeseen family priorities. But I must admit, your inspirations have lifted my spirits quite a lot! Thank you for the beautiful designs and great ideas! I just might try the cake tomorrow afternoon!
I love how plum cake is all the rage on the blogosphere this week! I tried smitten kitchen’s version of the kuchen and it was super delicious, though your version sounds really lovely as well.
I made your cake this weekend (with pecans substituted for almonds) and OH MY GOODNESS! It is AMAZING! Thanks so much for the lovely recipe. (My dear husband thanks you too and suggests bourbon whipped cream as a topping.)
I have a mass of plums from the tree in my garden so this recipe came along at just the right time! Picture here: http://img197.yfrog.com/img197/5193/x97q.jpg – it was delicious! I also made plum jam, then sat down with a cup of tea and slice of cake to do some knitting. Lovely!
I substituted peaches for the plums, and I brought the cake to a potluck, where it was a great hit! Great recipe!
I just put the plum cake in the oven. Making it for my mister who is returning from a trip to Turkey tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll be perfection!
It was so good I had some for breakfast! Thanks
for the fantastic recipe!
I made this lovely cake last night. So yummy!
that plum cake looks so wonderful! brings me back to my childhood my mom used to make that!
Love the shawl!
By the way, I made the cake the other day, adding extra plums (good idea!) and some chopped up crystallized ginger—YUM!
The perfect thing to accompany my knitting. Thank you for the great recipe.
I will have to make this plum cake. I made the one on Smitten Kitchen, and it was delicious! However, I spent a lot of time wishing I could eat it already.