Pflaumenkuchen, also known as plum cake or Zwetschgenkuchen, is a beloved German dessert that combines the sweet and juicy flavors of ripe plums with a buttery, crumbly crust. This classic pastry is a staple in German bakeries and homes, and it's often enjoyed during the late summer and early fall when plums are at their peak.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
GERMAN PLUM CAKE (PFLAUMENKUCHEN)
Steps:
- Lightly butter an 8x8 inch (20x20cm) baking dish or tin. Mix together the dry ingredients for the base - flour, sugar, yeast and salt - in a medium bowl.
- Put the butter and milk into a small microwavable dish and warm in 15 second intervals to gently warm the milk and melt the butter. The butter should be just melting and the milk lukewarm. Add this mixture (left to cool first, if too warm), the egg yolk and the vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix all together.
- Knead the dough gently for a minute or two - it should be soft but not wet so add a little more flour if too wet, or milk if it seems to crumble from being dry. Then, press the dough into the buttered baking dish. Press it right to the corners, flat across the bottom then slightly up at the edges.
- Cut the plums in half, along the bit that looks like a seam, then remove the stone. Cut each plum half in half. Arrange the plum quarters over the base as tightly as you can, ideally in rows, cut side up. Leave the dish at warm room temperature to let the dough rise slightly for approximately 1 hour (don't worry if it doesn't obviously change much).
- As the rest time is about done, preheat the oven to 350F/180C. Sprinkle the 1/2tbsp of sugar over the plums, if using.
- Rub together the flour, cinnamon, butter and sugar for the streusel then sprinkle it evenly over the plums.
- Bake the cake for approximately 30 -35 minutes, until the top is gently starting to brown and you can see the plums have softened underneath. Let the cake rest for around 10 minutes before cutting into slices. Works well as it is, both warm or at room temperature, as well as with cream.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 206 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 38 mg, Sodium 70 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 13 g, ServingSize 1 serving
PFLAUMENKUCHEN (GERMAN PLUM CAKE)
One of my all-time favorite things to eat in life, this plum cake couldn't be more sentimental. It's a classic German recipe that my grandmother made at the end of every summer during the brief window when the Italian prune plums are in season. Today, my mom and I both carry on that tradition, and I can still eat an entire tray by myself if left to my own devices. Pro-tip: Don't use anything but a 9x13 jelly roll pan for this. Anything larger and the dough won't fill the pan, any smaller and the dough will be too thick.
Provided by Amanda Gryphon
Categories Dessert
Time 1h20m
Yield 1 pan, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Quarter each plum so that all four quarters remain clinging together by their skin, forming a row.
- In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter together by cutting the butter in with a fork.
- In a measuring cup, combine the beaten egg and almond extract, then add enough milk to make 3/8 of a cup (aka 3 oz) total. (It may seem strange that there isn't an exact amount of milk to add, but I promise this method works. You'll likely use under 2 oz of milk, considering that a large egg is usually around 1.5 oz or so.).
- Add this to the dry ingredients and mix them together with your hands, forming a dough.
- If the dough is too sticky, add a touch more flour.
- Spread the dough thinly over a 13x9 inch jelly roll pan and cover it with overlapping rows of plums. (It may seem like the dough will never stretch to fit the entire pan, but be patient! Use the heel of your hand to gently spread the dough out evenly to each corner of the pan, the crust is supposed to be on the thinner side anyway.).
- Bake the tart for 1 hour and let it cool slightly before sprinkling with sugar for extra sweetness (or skip the sugar if you like it sweet-tart like I do).
- The plums will change color from green to a deep magenta as they bake, and will ooze lots of sticky purple juice that stains the crust beneath. Be careful not to overbake, this crust should be on the softer side.
PLUM KUCHEN
Moist plum coffee cake with sugar and cinnamon crumble topping.
Provided by Amy
Categories Desserts Cakes Coffee Cake Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 7x11-inch baking dish.
- Beat 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons margarine together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Mix eggs, 1 cup flour, baking powder, and salt into creamed margarine mixture; stir in vanilla. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish. Arrange plums, skin side-down, atop batter.
- Mix 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 3 tablespoons margarine, and cinnamon together in a bowl until crumbly; spoon over batter and plums.
- Bake in the preheated oven until plums are softened, about 35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 231.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43.5 g, Cholesterol 31 mg, Fat 5.6 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 3.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 152.8 mg, Sugar 30.6 g
PFLAUMENKUCHEN (GERMAN PLUM TART)
This is considered to be THE German fruit tart. Traditionally this is baked on yeast pastry, but the sweet German pastry is also a perfect base. It must be made with cold butter and the dough chilled before using, otherwise there is a tendency to add additional flour, which is a mistake. The crust rises up between the fruits and the delicious juices are absorbed into the pastry.
Provided by pleiad7
Categories Dessert
Time 1h35m
Yield 1 tart, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in cold butter and and work with the fingers for the pie crust until the butter is the size of peas.
- Stir in sugar and the beaten egg.
- Stir with a fork until mixture gathers together. Chill 15 minutes in the freezer.
- Using a piece of wax paper to prevent the dough from sticking to the hands, press onto the bottom and sides of a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
- Wash, dry, halve lengthwise, and stone the plums. Stand them on edge in rows very close together on the pastry.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool, then cover with sifted powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 375.4, Fat 16.8, SaturatedFat 10, Cholesterol 75.9, Sodium 248.3, Carbohydrate 54.4, Fiber 2.7, Sugar 36, Protein 4.4
Tips and Conclusion
Tips:
- For a perfectly crispy crust, pre-bake the pastry shell before filling it.
- To prevent a soggy bottom, sprinkle some breadcrumbs or almond flour on the bottom of the crust before adding the filling.
- Don't overfill the tart shell, or the filling will spill over during baking.
- Use ripe, in-season plums for the best flavor.
- If you don't have a tart pan, you can use a pie plate or even a cast-iron skillet.
- Serve the tart warm or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.
Conclusion:
Pflaumenkuchen, also known as German plum cake, is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed on any occasion. With its sweet and tart filling, crispy crust, and simple ingredients, it's no wonder this classic recipe has been passed down for generations. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, give Pflaumenkuchen a try and experience the joy of creating this timeless treat.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love