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Fresh Plum Cake – Pflaumenkuchen

September 11, 2018 by Sandy 2 Comments

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Fresh Plum Cake, also called Pflaumenkuchen and Zwetschgenkuchen (German Plum Cake) is a thin, rustic sheet cake baked with fresh plum slices on it. This Fresh Plum Cake recipe is simple, and not too sweet. A great way to use your fresh, ripe plums!

Four slices of Fresh Plum Cake, also called Pflaumenkuchen on a white oblong plate, next to a baking sheet of remaining dish

Fresh Plum Cake

Way back in the day I worked in a German Retirement Home (deutsches altersheim). I worked in the kitchen, and this is where my love of cooking really took off!

I was used to German food as my mom sometimes cooked recipes she knew from her time living in Germany. At the GRH there were many types of meals prepared for the residents, and it was fun for me to learn so many new recipes.

Chrystal, one of the staff who is German, liked to make this Fresh Plum Cake recipe once in a while. She just called it Pflaumenkuchen. I really liked it so she gave me her recipe. I wrote it down on pink paper, being a girly teenager, and I’ve had it in my little recipe box ever since.

Several fresh plums and pink paper with recipe on a wooden board

I don’t make this Fresh Plum Cake exactly like the written recipe because first of all, I stopped using margarine 20 years ago, and secondly, I use white flour instead of wheat. It’s just what I have on hand most of the time. Sometimes I use lemon extract, and usually use lemon zest. Use what you have!

Here are the easy steps to make this Pflaumenkuchen:

Four process images showing the creaming of the sugar, butter, and lemon zest then the addition of eggs, flour and baking powder

two process images showing the mixing of the batter before adding in milk

batter spread out on a baking sheet using a rubber spatula
When you go to spread the batter on your jelly roll pan, you will notice that there will be enough for a thin layer. It looks weird, and impossible, but this is correct (remember, we have 2 tsps of baking powder in there!).

Don’t use a pan larger than 10″x15″ or it will be way too thin!

two process images showing sliced plums on the batter, one before and the other after baking

You can use Italian plums, or whichever variety are your favorite. You don’t even HAVE to use plums! You can use peaches, pitted cherries, apricots, etc. I do suggest sprinkling a layer of white sugar over the fruit before baking as this is not a very sweet cake.

I like to but locally grown plums when in season. This is my favorite farmers market to go to when I can’t get Downtown to the Pike Place Market.

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Four slices of Fresh Plum Cake, also called Pflaumenkuchen and Zwetschgenkuchen (German Plum Cake) on a white oblong plate next to baking sheet with remaining dish
Print
Fresh Plum Cake
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Fresh Plum Cake, also called Pflaumenkuchen and Zwetschgenkuchen (German Plum Cake) is a thin, rustic sheet cake baked with fresh plum slices on it. This Fresh Plum Cake recipe is simple, and not too sweet. A great way to use your fresh, ripe plums!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: German
Keyword: German plum cake recipe
Servings: 8 - 10
Calories: 298 kcal
Author: Sandy Clifton
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup Sugar, plus more for topping
  • 1/2 cup Butter, room temp
  • 1/2 tsp Lemon Zest (or 1/4 tsp lemon extract)
  • 2 Eggs, room temp
  • 1 1/2 cups Flour
  • 2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Milk
  • 1 1/2 lbs Fresh Ripe Plums, pitted and sliced 1/2" thick
Instructions
  1. Slice and pit your plums, and set them aside.

  2. Line a jelly roll pan (no larger than 10"x15"x2") with parchment, or grease/spray well.

  3. Preheat oven to 350° F.

  4. In a mixing bow, cream together sugar, butter, and lemon zest.

  5. Beat in 1 egg at a time.

  6. Add the flour and baking powder and mix together by hand, using a spoon.

  7. Add 1 tsp milk and mix just until incorporated. Don't over mix.

  8. Spread the batter on the pan using a spatula. Dip the spatula in water to help with the spreading (don't saturate the batter though). This will be a thin layer of batter, don't worry as this is correct.

  9. Arrange the sliced plums on top of the batter, evenly spaced, with the skin side down (this keeps most of the juice in the fruit, not the batter).

  10. Sprinkle a layer of sugar over the top of the fruit and exposed batter (I end up using 3 to 6 Tbsps. It depends on how sweet the plums are).

  11. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the batter comes out clean.

  12. Cool the cake on a wire rack and then slice as you wish and transfer the pieces to a serving dish.

  13. This cake should be eaten within a day.

Fresh Plum Cake, also called Pflaumenkuchen and Zwetschgenkuchen (German Plum Cake) is a thin sheet cake baked with fresh plum slices on it. This Fresh Plum Cake recipe is simple, and not too sweet. A great way to use your fresh ripe plums! simplyhappyfoodie.com #freshplumcake #Pflaumenkuchen #Zwetschgenkuchen

RESOURCES TO MAKE Fresh Plum Cake recipe and more

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Filed Under: Baking, Dessert, Holiday, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Ros

    September 27, 2020 at 3:15 am

    your plum cake is so very similar to what we ate in Germany Thankyou do you do emails or what?
    Rosbj

    Reply
  2. Carmella

    September 29, 2018 at 9:41 pm

    Wow, this looks really yummy! I actually love cooked plums so I’m sure this is amazing

    Reply

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Sandy wearing a black shirt and a red apron I’m Sandy - foodie with a passion for cooking and sharing my tasty recipes. My hubby Paul, our Pug Gizmo, and I live in Washington.

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