Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (2024)

Welcome to my first ever Delicious Bites column, this is Jillian Leiboff and I'm excited to be writing for decor8 again this year. At the end of 2012, Holly asked if I’d like to switch things up a bit and write a food column instead of my usual shop girl visits column to encourage more of what she loves: cooking up easy, simple meals and desserts, nurturing relationships around the table and really enjoying your time at home with family and friends. Sounds good to me, what do you think?Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (1)

For those of you who know me as a shop photographer, this may come as something of a surprise but food is also one of my first loves. I’ve been baking since I was 12 and photographing food since my student photography days. While other students were bringing watches and vases to photograph there was me with sushi, coffee cups and chocolate brownies! Not much has changed since.

Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (2)

I decided to kick off Delicious Bites this month with my recipe for Plum Crumble Cake. I've been making this simple plum cake for ages - it’s a basic butter cake layered with sugared plums yet it’s so versatile -- you can use almost any kind of fruit. I've made the cake topped with sliced apricots, peaches, raspberries, blueberries and mulberries and all were delicious so see what variation you can try on this recipe.

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In addition to the fruit tip, I also tweak the recipe every now and then. Sometimes I'll use cinnamon to flavour the cake and I've even tried lemon rind. This time, I decided to add a crumble topping. You can never have too much of a good thing, can you? NOPE..

Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (4)

Walnuts and cinnamon go really well with plums so the cake is topped with a cinnamon-spiced walnut crumble. It's a very moist cake, so don't be alarmed when some of some of the plums disappear. They’ll sink to the bottom for sure but please note that this helps to keep the cake nice and moist so it's not a bad thing.

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The crumble recipe makes way more than you'll need to top the cake so I store leftovers in the freezer. You can use the crumble next time you make the cake or you can use it to make a delicious fruit crumble. If you don't feel like making the crumble, the cake is delicious just as it is. A light dusting of icing sugar is all it needs but if you feel like adding a dollop of cream, that’s good too. I'm also not opposed to ice cream!

Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (6)Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (7)

Ok! Are you ready to bake this delicious cake? Good, because here's the recipe!

Crumble Topping¼ cup (55 gm) brown sugar¼ cup (35 gm) plain flour½ teaspoon ground cinnamon½ cup (70 gm) walnuts30 grams (1 oz) cold unsalted butter cut into small chunks

Cake Ingredients5 small plums1 tablespoon caster sugar125 grams (4 oz) unsalted butter100 grams (½ cup) caster sugar1 egg1 cup self raising flour½ teaspoon cinnamon60 mls (¼ cup) milkOptional – icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar)

Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (8)

Crumble ToppingTo make the crumble, combine the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a food processor. Add the walnuts and butter and pulse until just combined. Place the crumble topping in a small bowl and refrigerate while making the cake. This makes more crumble than required so I store any leftover crumble in the freezer.

Cake* Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F.* Grease and flour a 18 cm springform tin and line the base with baking paper.* Cut the plums in half and remove the pits.* Slice each plum into quarters, put into a small bowl and sprinkle over the tablespoon of caster sugar. * Set aside.* To make the cake, cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until light and fluffy.* Add the egg and mix until combined well.* Sift the flour and the cinnamon.* Add the flour alternately with the milk to make a soft batter. You may not need to use all the milk.* Spoon half the batter into the greased and lined tin.* Layer a few of the plum slices over the top of the batter.* Gently spoon the remaining batter over the fruit.* Sprinkle the top of the cake with the crumble and arrange the remaining plum slices onto the crumble layer.* Bake the cake for 60-75 minutes or until the cake tests cooked when a skewer is inserted into it. Some of the plums will sink to the bottom of the tin while cooking.* Cool the cake in the tin for about 15 minutes before turning out to cool on a wire rack.* If desired, dust the top of the cake with icing sugar.

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I hope you enjoy the cake - if you make it please let me know how it came out! See you all again next month with another recipe from my kitchen. - Jillian

(photos/recipe ©2013 Jillian Leiboff)

Plum Crumble Cake Recipe — decor8 (2024)

FAQs

What is so special about plum cake? ›

Plum cakes have a fascinating history originating in medieval England where a fasting tradition preceded Christmas. The precursor to plum cake was a porridge-like dish made with dried fruits, oats, spices, and honey. The recipe evolved with the substitution of oats with flour, and the addition of eggs and butter.

What is the difference between a fruit cake and a plum cake? ›

A Fruit Cake is a normal vanilla cake with fruits in it. Whereas a Plum Cake is made with dry fruits soaked in alcohol/orange juice for more than a day. A Fruit Cake's colour is white to yellowish inside, whereas a Plum Cake's colour is brown to dark brown inside.

What is another name for plum cake? ›

Terms. The term "plum cake" and "fruit cake" have become interchangeable. Since dried fruit is used as a sweetening agent and any dried fruit used to be described as "plums", many plum cakes and plum puddings do not contain the plum fruit now known by that name.

Why do people eat plum cake during Christmas? ›

The evolution of the plum cake from porridge and pudding, to what it is now. The story of the plum cake begins in medieval England, where it was a popular tradition to observe a period of self-denial, fasting, and abstinence from every kind of indulgence in the weeks leading to Christmas.

Why is plum cake so expensive? ›

Plum cake usually contains rum as an ingredient along with various nuts, olives, and apricots. The alcohol ingredient is responsible for its higher cost and a peculiar yet awesome taste.

Is plum cake good for diabetes? ›

Yes! Plums can be part of a healthy eating plan to manage blood glucose (blood sugar) levels—and their fiber content can improve digestive health and bowel regularity, support a healthy gut, and aid in weight management efforts by enhancing feelings of fullness.

What is the healthiest cake to eat? ›

What Type of Cake is Healthy?
  1. Angel Food Cake. Angel food cake is healthy because It does not contain egg yolk and butter. ...
  2. 2 . Flourless Chocolate Cake. ...
  3. 3 . Protein Mug Cake. ...
  4. 4 . Homemade Strawberry Shortcake. ...
  5. 5 . Sugar-Free Carrot and Date Cake. ...
  6. 6 . Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. ...
  7. 7 . Cheesecake. ...
  8. 8 . Red Velvet Cake.

What is plum cake theory? ›

The 'plum pudding' model of the atom was proposed by JJ Thomson, who had also discovered the electron. It was put forth before the discovery of the nucleus. According to this model, the atom is a sphere of positive charge, and negatively charged electrons are embedded in it to balance the total positive charge.

Are plum cakes healthy? ›

Being a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, they support bone health, muscle function and immune system, adds Nanavati. Experts say that homemade plum cakes are a healthier option that can give us additional nutritional benefits.

What is an exotic plum cake? ›

Exotic Plum cakes are made of honey and wine soaked premium dry fruits like black currants, raisins, badam, cherry, strawberry , blue berry ,fig, dates, Pista , walnut ,cashew etc.

What is slang for fruit cake? ›

Slang. a crazy or eccentric person; nut.

What is candied fruit for fruitcake called? ›

Candied fruit, also known as glacé fruit, is whole fruit, smaller pieces of fruit, or pieces of peel, placed in heated sugar syrup, which absorbs the moisture from within the fruit and eventually preserves it.

Why is there no plum in plum cake? ›

However, one thing was for certain: there were no plums in this dish, which makes the origin of its name a mystery. Some believe that raisins were referred to as 'plums' in medieval England; since the recipe called for an abundance of them, the dish came to be known as 'plum pudding'.

Why is plum cake crumbly? ›

A cake can crumble for a variety of reasons: overmixed batter, too much flour, not enough sugar or not enough shortening. When you bake your cake, make sure you use the flour your recipes calls for, preheat your oven and bake the cake at the correct temperature.

How many days does plum cake last? ›

Leftover plum cake will keep covered in an airtight container or cake container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The cake will lose its crisp sugar topping if stored, but the cake is delicious for several days! Storing at room temperature is best to maintain the cake's moistness.

What is the significance of plum pudding? ›

There is a popular myth that plum pudding's association with Christmas goes back to a custom in medieval England that the "pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, that it be prepared with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and the 12 apostles, and that every family member stir it in turn from east to ...

Is eating plum cake healthy? ›

Being a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, they support bone health, muscle function and immune system, adds Nanavati. Experts say that homemade plum cakes are a healthier option that can give us additional nutritional benefits.

What is the significance of the fruit cake? ›

A regal history of fruitcake

A forerunner of the fruitcake actually fueled Ancient Roman warriors who carried a mixture of barley, pomegranate seeds, nuts, and raisins mixed with honeyed wine. The cakes — called satura — sustained them through their long marches to the furthest corners of the empire.

References

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