We always know autumn is on its way when Italian plums appear at the farmer’s market! This is one of our all time favorite cake recipes that’s… easy to make, delicious to eat and does homage to the season’s special bounty. Don’t forget the cardamom sugar and enjoy…
Ingredients…
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Smidge of salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Italian plums, halved and pits removed
- Cardamom sugar… see recipe below.
To Make…
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8″ cake pan and flour it.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and add the eggs one at a time beating until smooth. Add the vanilla, beat and scrape down the bowl again.
In a separate bowl, mix the salt, baking powder, and flour. Add dry ingredients to the mix and beat just until combined.
Pour the batter into the cake pan. Arrange plum halves, skin side up, on top of the cake. Crowd them in there… more than you want to… the cake will rise around them. Dust with the cardamom sugar.
Bake for 30 minutes until the plums are runny and bubbling and a cake tester comes out clean.
Let cool before turning out onto a cake plate. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with whipped cream.
For the Cardamom Sugar…
Mix ½ cup sugar with the zest of 2 oranges and ½ teaspoon each of cardamom and turmeric. Store extra in a glass jar in your pantry… you’ll be glad you did!