Tuscan Plum Cake recipe, yummm...
This Tuscan Plum Cake recipe is a delightful blend of sweet and tangy flavors, with juicy plums deeply caramelizing as they bake and melt into a tender, buttery cake. The brown sugar and cinnamon create a warm, spiced sweetness that complements the fruit, while almond extract and anise add subtle, aromatic notes that give the cake a unique depth.
The sour cream adds a slight tang and keeps the crumb moist, balancing the sweetness and enhancing the tender texture. A hint of lemon brightens the flavors, making each bite refreshing and vibrant, while the buttery richness provides a satisfying, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
We love this cake because it’s the perfect harmony of light and comforting—ideal for enjoying with coffee or as a cozy dessert. The balance of tart fruit and warm spices makes it feel both sophisticated and comforting, capturing the essence of Tuscan-inspired baking. Nutritionally, the plums bring a dose of antioxidants, vitamins C and K, and fiber, supporting skin health and digestion, while the eggs and butter provide essential fats and protein for satiety. Together, these ingredients create a dessert that feels indulgent yet nourishing, satisfying both the body and the soul with every slice.
Delicious Tuscan Plum Cake recipe...
This is quite possibly our favorite use of plums! This cake recipe intensifies the flavor of the plums, elevating these humble fruits to another level!
Recipe Ingredients...
Ingredients you will need to make this delicious Tuscan Plum Cake recipe:
- Plums have a juicy, sweet-tart flavor that becomes wonderfully rich and jammy when baked, adding a fruity, vibrant note to the cake. Choose plums that are firm yet yield slightly when pressed, with deep color and smooth skin. They’re high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, supporting digestion and immune health.
- Brown Sugar has a rich, caramel-like sweetness with a hint of molasses, which adds depth and moisture to the cake. Opt for fresh, soft brown sugar that clumps easily for the best texture. It helps keep the cake moist and flavorful.
- Sugar adds a clean, sweet flavor that enhances the cake’s overall sweetness and balances the tartness of the plums. Look for fine, granulated sugar for easy mixing. It’s essential for structure and caramelization, giving the cake a tender crumb and golden color.
- Unsalted Butter brings a creamy richness that adds flavor and tenderness, giving the cake a soft, delicate texture. Choose high-quality unsalted butter with a fresh aroma. It’s also a source of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, which support cellular health.
- All Purpose Flour provides the structural base for the cake, giving it its shape and texture. Choose a high-quality, organic, unbleached flour for optimal flavor and texture. It’s a source of complex carbohydrates that supply energy.
- Baking Powder is a leavening agent that gives the cake its light, fluffy texture by helping it rise during baking. Ensure it’s fresh for maximum effectiveness. It plays a critical role in achieving the cake’s ideal texture.
- Whole Eggs add richness and bind the ingredients together, contributing to the cake’s structure and tenderness. Look for fresh, high-quality eggs with bright yolks. Eggs are also rich in protein, vitamins, and healthy fats, supporting overall wellness.
- Sour Cream has a creamy tang that adds moisture and a slight acidity, enhancing the cake’s tenderness and balancing the sweetness. Opt for full-fat, fresh sour cream for a rich texture. It contains calcium and protein, and the acidity helps with a tender crumb.
- Lemon adds a fresh, bright acidity that enhances the flavor of plums and balances the cake’s sweetness. Choose a heavy lemon with a glossy skin for maximum juiciness. It’s rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, supporting immune health and adding a natural zing.
- Brandy adds a warm, fruity depth that complements the plums and spices, enriching the cake’s flavor. Use quality brandy for the best taste. While alcohol bakes off, brandy leaves antioxidants and flavor compounds that add complexity.
- Almond extract has a sweet, nutty flavor that adds warmth and depth, complementing the plums and enhancing the cake’s aroma. Use pure almond extract for a natural, aromatic flavor. While not nutritive, it adds a subtle complexity that elevates the cake.
- Ground Anise has a sweet, licorice-like flavor that adds a unique, aromatic layer, bringing a slight warmth that pairs well with plums and cinnamon. Choose fresh ground anise for a vibrant aroma. It contains compounds that support digestion and may have mild anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Ground Cinnamon has a warm, sweet-spicy flavor that adds depth and complements the fruit, enhancing the cozy flavor profile of the cake. Use fresh, fragrant cinnamon for the best flavor. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, adding a touch of warmth and wellness.
- Kosher Salt
Recipe Tools...
- Kitchen Aid + Paddle Attachment
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Micro plane grater
- Small skillet
- 8″ cake pan
- Mixing bowl, small stainless steel
Recipe Process
How to make this deliciousTuscan Plum Cake Recipe:
- First set oven temp to 375℉.
- Butter the cake pan (use your fingertips, the butter wrapper, or a piece of parchment paper) and dust it lightly with flour.
- Place small, heavy bottom skillet on a burner and set burner to setting 4.
- Add brown sugar and 3 tbsps. of the butter and cook until the butter is melted and the brown sugar is dissolved and all is bubbly and cohesive, about 5 minutes.
- Toss plums with lemon and ½ tsp of kosher salt, then place them face down in the prepared cake pan.
- Pour brown sugar mixture evenly over plums.
- Place remaining butter and the sugar in kitchen aid bowl. Start slow and gently increase speed to setting 3. Mix for 2 minutes.
- Add almond extract and brandy. Continue mixing for 2 additional minutes.
- Increase to setting 4, mix for 2 minutes and then add eggs one at a time mixing for 2 minutes between each addition.
- Add sour cream and mix for 2 minutes.
- Quickly combine flour, ½ tsp of kosher salt, ground anise, ground cinnamon and baking powder in a separate bowl.
- Reduce mixer speed to setting 2 and add flour mixture to the Kitchen Aid mixer, add ½ at a time in two separate additions.
- Mix for 2 minutes, pause, scrape sides with rubber spatula, resume and mix for 1 minute more.
- Using rubber spatula, gently spoon batter over plums and distributing evenly. Smooth the top and pop the cake in the oven.
- Bake the cake in the center rack for 45 minutes.
- Finished cake should look fluffy, golden and spring back when gently pressed. Remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Turn cake out onto a cake plate. Let the cake sit turned upside down for 10 minutes before removing cake tin. Cool completely before serving.
- Serve as is or garnish as you like with powdered sugar, spun sugar, softly whipped cream, demerara sugar, ice cream etc.
Tuscan Plum Cake
This Tuscan Plum Cake recipe is a delightful blend of sweet and tangy flavors, with juicy plums deeply caramelizing as they bake and melt into a tender, buttery cake. The brown sugar and cinnamon create a warm, spiced sweetness that complements the fruit, while almond extract and anise add subtle, aromatic notes that give the cake a unique depth.
Equipment
- 1 Kitchen Aid equipped with paddle attachment
- 1 Rubber spatula
- 1 Measuring cups set
- 1 Measuring spoons set
- 1 Micro-plane grater
- 1 Skillet small
- 1 Cake pan round, 8"
- 1 Mixing bowl small, stainless steel
Ingredients
- 2 each Whole Plums halved, pits removed
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ⅔ cup Sugar organic, fair trade
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 tbsp Baking Powder
- 2 each Whole Eggs organic, free range, carbon neutral
- ⅓ cup Sour Cream
- 1 tbsp Brandy
- ½ tsp Almond Extract
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice fresh squeezed
- ¼ tsp Anise ground
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon ground
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter 2 sticks
Instructions
- Set oven temp to 375℉
- Butter cake pan and dust lightly with flour.
- Place small, heavy bottom skillet on a burner and set burner to setting 4.
- Add brown sugar and 3 tbsps. of the butter and cook until the butter is melted and the brown sugar is dissolved and all is bubbly and cohesive, about 5 minutes.
- Toss plums with lemon and ½ tsp of kosher salt, then place them face down in the prepared cake pan.
- Pour brown sugar mixture evenly over plums.
- Place remaining butter and the sugar in kitchen aid bowl. Start slow and gently increase speed to setting 3. Mix for 2 minutes.
- Add almond extract and brandy. Continue mixing for 2 additional minutes.
- Increase to setting 4, mix for 2 minutes and then add eggs one at a time mixing for 2 minutes between each addition.
- Add sour cream and mix for 2 minutes.
- Quickly combine flour, ½ tsp of kosher salt, ground anise, ground cinnamon and baking powder in a separate bowl.
- Reduce mixer speed to setting 2 and add flour mixture to the Kitchen Aid mixer, add ½ at a time in two separate additions.
- Mix for 2 minutes, pause, scrape sides with rubber spatula, resume and mix for 1 minute more.
- Using rubber spatula, gently spoon batter over plums and distributing evenly. Smooth the top and pop the cake in the oven.
- Bake the cake in the center rack for 45 minutes.
- Finished cake should look fluffy, golden and spring back when gently pressed. Remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Turn cake out onto a cake plate. Let the cake sit turned upside down for 10 minutes before removing cake tin. Cool completely before serving.
- Serve as is or garnish as you like with powdered sugar, spun sugar, softly whipped cream, demerara sugar, ice cream etc.
When you eat well, you live well—and food should make you feel truly alive!
Becoming attuned to your body and noticing how it feels after your meal helps you become aware of what foods may or may not be the best idea for you to eat.
No one knows your body as well as you do, so instead of following prescriptive diets, listen to your inner cues. This mindful approach helps us eat in a way that supports our overall well-being.
Let’s make cooking at home a joyful, soul-nourishing experience that enriches your life in every way!
