Nigel Slater’s Plum Cake is made with all-purpose flour, baking powder, spices, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, and fresh plums. It takes about 55 minutes to prepare and bake, and it serves 6, offering a delightful dessert option.
More Nigel Slater Recipe:
🤎 Why You’ll Love This Plum Cake Recipe:
- Fresh and Fruity: The use of fresh plums adds a natural sweetness and tartness, enhancing the overall flavor of the cake.
- Simple to Make: This recipe is straightforward and uses common pantry ingredients, making it easy to whip up even on short notice.
- Texture Delight: The cake’s crumb is soft and moist, contrasted beautifully by the slightly tart, juicy plums, which also add a lovely burst of color.
- Perfect for Any Time of Day: Enjoy it as an after-dinner dessert, a tea-time treat, or even a luxurious breakfast option.
❓ What Is Nigel Slater Plum Cake Recipe?
Nigel Slater’s Plum Cake features a blend of all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and fresh plums, topped with a cinnamon-sugar crust. It bakes in about 45 minutes and serves beautifully as a rustic dessert.
🥚 Nigel Slater Plum Cake Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups plums, pitted and chopped (about 4-5 medium plums)
For the Topping:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
🥮 How To Make Nigel Slater Plum Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the chopped plums until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the batter, then drizzle with melted butter.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.
💭 Recipe Tips
- Select the Right Plums: Use slightly underripe plums for this cake, as they will hold their shape better during baking and provide a nice tart contrast to the sweet cake.
- Prevent Sinking Plums: Dust your chopped plums lightly with flour before folding them into the batter. This helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- Check Doneness Properly: Since this cake contains fresh fruit, it might need a bit longer in the oven than similar non-fruit cakes. Use a toothpick or a skewer to check for doneness. If it comes out with wet batter, give it a few more minutes.
- Bake on the Middle Rack: To ensure even baking and proper heat circulation around the cake, bake it on the middle rack of your oven.
- Do Not Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a denser, tougher cake.
- Adjust Sugar Based on Plum Sweetness: Depending on the sweetness of your plums, you may want to adjust the amount of sugar in the batter or topping. Taste your plums ahead of time to decide.
🍦 What To Serve With Plum Cake?
Serve Plum Cake with Condensed Milk Ice Cream or Rhubarb Ice Cream for added creaminess a dollop of Greek yogurt or Cream Cheese Frosting also pairs well for beverages, complement with a sweet dessert wine or a warm cup of coffee or tea.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Plum Cake?
- Refrigerate: Cool leftovers Plum Cake to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage wrap leftovers Plum Cake in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil place it in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Plum Cake?
- On The Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C) cover leftovers Plum Cake with foil reheat for up 10-15 minutes.
- In The Microwave: Heat leftovers Plum Cake slice on medium for 30-60 seconds checking to avoid drying.
FAQs
Can I use canned plums instead of fresh in Plum Cake?
Yes, you can use canned plums if fresh are not available be sure to drain them thoroughly and pat dry to remove excess moisture that could affect the texture of the cake.
How do I prevent the plums from sinking to the bottom of the cake?
Dust the chopped plums lightly with flour before folding them into the batter this helps to evenly distribute them throughout the cake by preventing them from sinking.
What makes Plum Cake different from other fruit cakes?
Plum Cake is unique due to the distinctive tartness of the plums, which balances the sweetness of the cake. It typically has a denser, moister texture than other fruit cakes, which complements the juicy bite of the plums.
Why did my Plum Cake turn out dry?
Overbaking is the common cause of dry cake make sure to check your cake a few minutes before the recommended baking time, as oven temperatures can vary.
What type of pan is best for baking Plum Cake?
A springform pan is ideal as it allows for easy removal without damaging the cake. An 8-inch round cake pan also works well, just ensure it’s well-greased or lined with parchment paper.
How do I know when my Plum Cake is done baking?
Insert a toothpick or a cake tester into the center of the cake it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The edges should pull away slightly from the pan, and the top should be golden brown.
How can I add more flavor to my Plum Cake?
Consider adding a splash of almond extract or a bit of citrus zest to the batter to complement the flavor of the plums. Spices like cardamom or cloves can also enhance the cake’s aroma and taste.
Try More Nigel Slater Recipe:
Nigel Slater Plum Cake Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 80g)
- Calories: 258
- Total Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 180mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 35g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 20g
- Protein: 4g
Nigel Slater Plum Cake
Description
Nigel Slater’s Plum Cake is made with all-purpose flour, baking powder, spices, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, and fresh plums. It takes about 55 minutes to prepare and bake, and it serves 6, offering a delightful dessert option.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
For the Topping:
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the chopped plums until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the batter, then drizzle with melted butter.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Notes
- Select the Right Plums: Use slightly underripe plums for this cake, as they will hold their shape better during baking and provide a nice tart contrast to the sweet cake.
- Prevent Sinking Plums: Dust your chopped plums lightly with flour before folding them into the batter. This helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- Check Doneness Properly: Since this cake contains fresh fruit, it might need a bit longer in the oven than similar non-fruit cakes. Use a toothpick or a skewer to check for doneness. If it comes out with wet batter, give it a few more minutes.
- Bake on the Middle Rack: To ensure even baking and proper heat circulation around the cake, bake it on the middle rack of your oven.
- Do Not Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a denser, tougher cake.
- Adjust Sugar Based on Plum Sweetness: Depending on the sweetness of your plums, you may want to adjust the amount of sugar in the batter or topping. Taste your plums ahead of time to decide.