Marthas Plum Dessert Recipes

PLUM-JAM CRUMB CAKE

Steps:

• Topping: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, brown sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Stir in butter until combined.
• Cake: Brush a 9-by-9-by-2-inch square cake pan (not nonstick) with butter. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; butter parchment.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl, beat butter with granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with 2 additions of milk, beating until combined and scraping down bowl as necessary.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Spread jam evenly over top. Sprinkle evenly with topping, squeezing to create large clumps. Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. Use parchment to lift cake out of pan, then let cool completely on rack before serving.

LATE SUMMER PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. (Alternatively, the cake may be made in a 9-inch cake pan or pie pan and served directly from the pan.)
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low speed until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth. (Note: the batter will be quite thick.)
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Arrange the plums on top, skin side up, in a circular pattern so that they mostly cover the batter. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the plums.
• Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until golden on top and set in the center.
• When the cake is hot out of the oven, run a knife around the edges of the pan and then remove the springform edge, leaving the base in place (if using a springform pan). Let the cake cool on a rack completely. Slice and serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
• Note: This cake keeps well, loosely covered at room temperature, for several days.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

PLUM OATMEAL CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, stir together 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, oats, and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until coarse crumbs form.
• In a shallow 2-quart baking dish, toss plums with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon flour; sprinkle with oat topping. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until topping is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.

NEXT-LEVEL PLUM UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter with brown sugar over low heat. Using a fork, mix together until smooth. Remove from heat.
• Place plum halves, cut-sides down, on a work surface; cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Transfer each slice to skillet, forming concentric circles beginning at outer edge and ending in center, overlapping slices as you go around.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat remaining 1 stick butter with granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks and vanilla; add to butter mixture. In another small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with buttermilk and beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat until just combined. Transfer batter to a wide bowl.
• In a clean mixer bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium-high until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Stir one-third of whites into batter. Gently fold in remaining whites until incorporated. Pour batter over plums, spreading with an offset spatula to cover evenly.
• Bake until top is browned and springs back when lightly pressed in center, and a tester comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer skillet to a wire rack; let cool 20 minutes. Turn out cake onto a serving plate and let cool completely before serving.

FIG-AND-PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square cake pan; line with 2 wide pieces of parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Butter parchment. Toss fruit with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.
• In a food processor, pulse 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to combine. Add half of butter and pulse until fine crumbs form. Transfer to prepared cake pan and use floured fingers to press dough evenly into bottom of pan. (If too soft to easily press in, refrigerate 10 minutes.)
• Bake until crust is light golden in color, about 20 minutes; transfer to a wire rack and let cool 15 minutes.
• In food processor, pulse remaining half of butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt with baking powder until combined. Add almond flour, remaining 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, eggs, and almond extract; process until smooth.
• Spread batter evenly over crust. Gently stir fruit to reincorporate sugar mixture and arrange on top of batter (cut-side up). Bake until fruit is bubbling and filling is firm, about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Let cool in pan 15 minutes, then use parchment overhang to lift cake out of pan and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool 1 hour and serve. Cake can be stored in an airtight container up to 2 days.

ROSE-SCENTED PLUM CRUMBLE TART

Steps:

• Crust: Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add yolks and ice water; pulse until dough comes together. Pat into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Let dough stand at room temperature until pliable. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to a rough 13-inch round, about 1/4 inch thick. Fit into an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Fold over and tuck overhanging edges into pan. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Filling: Toss to combine plums, both sugars, cornstarch, salt, and rose water in a bowl. Spread in tart shell in a single layer.
• Crumble: Combine brown sugar, butter, flour, and salt in a bowl and mix with fingertips until clumps form. Crumble evenly over filling.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in lower third. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until juices are bubbling and topping is browned, about 50 minutes. Let cool completely. Tart is best served the day it's made, with sorbet.