Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tuesdays with Dorie: Dimply Plum Cake


Note to self, don’t buy fruit at Costco if you are looking for “petite” fruit. I read through this recipe and couldn’t figure out how I could fit 8 plums in an 8-inch square pan, but I figured I would see how it would work. The plums I got were huge and I ended up only using 2 plums, which I quartered.


I had cardamom in the cupboard, so I decided to include it. The last time I had used cardamom, quite some time ago, I really disliked whatever I had made. It’s been so long that I don’t even remember what I had made! I’m glad I gave it another try, because it was a nice addition.


The cake had a great flavor and the plums, despite being huge, were sweet and very ripe. I didn’t bake the cake nearly long enough, and when I took the cake out of the pan it was really undercooked in the center. We ate the edges of the cake, and really enjoyed it. Next time I will make I make it with much smaller plums and bake it longer.


1-1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon cardamom

5 tablespoons butter

¾ cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup canola oil

Zest of 1 orange

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

8 plums, halved (I had huge plums and only needed 2, which I quartered)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan.

Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until soft and creamy. Add the brown sugar and beat for 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for a minute after each addition. Beat in the oil, orange zest, and vanilla. Batter will be smooth.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Top the batter with the plums, cut side up. Press the plums into the batter a bit.

Bake for 40 minutes (or longer if you have huge plums like I did) until the top is browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.

Recipe from Baking from My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

6 comments:

Christine said...

I guess that is why Costco and Sams are bulk stores, things are always huge! Great looking cake sorry the middle wasn't cooked all the way!

CB said...

Good advice. I can't buy fruit from Costco (well maybe strawberries) b/c me and my hubs don't eat them fast enough before they go bad! Bummer about the underbaking. Maybe next time pop that thing in for 5-10 minutes longer?
Clara @ iheartfood4thought

Lori said...

actually, cutting the fruit into smaller pieces than halves is probably better no matter what! and i cooked mine longer than the recipe said to and still had some underdone batter. hmm.

La Bella Cooks said...

I am glad you tried the cardamom again as I thought the cake with cardamom was the best part! Yours look lovely with the plums quartered.

Anonymous said...

I made it with nectarines, and I also used two, quartered. I really like the way yours looks, with the flesh up rather than the skin. I think I'll try it that way next time.

Bungalow Barbara said...

Love the huge plum quarters, they look lovely! I had trouble with my cake not getting done soon enough, too. I baked it longer and it ended up dry. Oh well, better luck next week.