Brown Sugar Plum Cakes
As far as summer fruit goes, I often feel like plums don’t get the attention they deserve. I love strawberries, blueberries and raspberries as much as the next gal, but even these succulent fruits can’t match the sheer variety of vibrant reds, purples and yellows of the plum. Plus, there’s nothing quite like biting into a sweet, juicy plum on a warm summer day. At least, as far as I’m concerned. 
In season from May through October, there are over 2,000 kinds of plums in the world with over 100 of them being available in the United States. Last week Whole Foods had a particularly tempting display of Satsuma Plums in the produce section and I went a little crazy stocking up on these red fleshed, purple skinned beauties. Can you blame me? One must enjoy life’s little pleasures where they can be found!
By this morning only two plums were left and I decided that something special was in order, it being the 4th of July and all. So after breakfast I whipped up a simple brown sugar cake batter, then split each plum in half, removed the pits and pressed the plum halves into the cake batter, cut side up. After sprinkling the plums with extra brown sugar the cakes baked for thirty minutes, during which time the almond-scented batter rose enough to envelope the fruit. We ate them warm and topped with French vanilla ice cream while sitting outside, listening to the neighborhood kids set off fireworks and scream with unrestrained glee. It was a delicious way to take a break from packing boxes for our upcoming move, now two weeks away.
For the photos shown here I removed a bit of cake on top so you could see the succulent plum inside. Ordinarily it’s not necessary to do this though. In fact, I think there’s a certain charm that comes with breaking through the top of the cake with your spoon, ice cream slowly melting on the top, only to discover the deep purple plum juices inside.
It’s been a few weeks since my last blog post and for that I must apologize. I needed to put Baking and Books on the back burner for a bit while I figured out my post-graduation work schedule. Balance, that’s what I needed. Did I mention that I finished graduate school? Well I did! And I have two new jobs, one as the Judaism Guide for About.com and another as the Director of Programming at a synagogue in Connecticut. Also, as I mentioned above, we’re moving to a new apartment. And there’s another super-secret development on the horizon too, but I can’t spill the beans on that one yet.
So you can see why I was MIA for a bit, yes? But I’m going to make it up to you by giving away a fun new book in this post called Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year. Rather than the monthly book giveaway (which is time consuming and expensive at times) I’ve decided to randomly raffle off books in posts. Are you ready?
If you would like to win a copy of Cookie Swap please tell me in the comments what your favorite kind of cookie is and why. I’ll randomly pick a winner next week.
Plum Recipes on Other Blogs:
- Plum Upside Down Cake at Simply Recipes
- Plum and Peach Crisp Recipe at 101 Cookbooks
- Dimply Plum Cake at Smitten Kitchen
- Plum Cupcakes with Sweet-Corn Ice Cream at Zoë Bakes
Brown Sugar Plum Cakes
Adapted from Baking with Julia, by Dorie Greenspan.
Ingredients: Makes 4 single-serving cakes
- 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 2 large, ripe plums, halved and pitted
Special equipment: 4 large ramekins or oven-safe baking dishes
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Coat your baking dishes with PAM baking spray.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or with a hand-held mixer, cream the butter, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and the granulated sugar together on medium speed for 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for 3 minutes more, or until the mixture turns white. Increase the speed to high and add the eggs one at a time, beating for 30 seconds between additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the vanilla and almond extracts, beating on high for 30 seconds more.
On low speed add the flour 1/4 cup at a time, then the baking soda, beating for 15 seconds. Add the milk and mix again for a few seconds, then finish the mixing process by hand to prevent over mixing the batter.
Divide the batter among your baking dishes. Place a plum half, cut side up, into each dish, gently pushing it down into the batter. Don’t push it in too far, you want to leave some of it above batter level. Sprinkle an equal amount of the remaining brown sugar over each plum.
Place the dishes on a cookie pan, then bake for 30 minutes until the cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake part of the dessert comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you like.
These cakes will keep for one day, wrapped airtight and at room temperature.
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97 Responses to “Brown Sugar Plum Cakes”
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Now that is what I call a super summer dessert! Looks so delicious and is just perfect for a warm, sunny day.
Yum! Plums, especially now when they’re perfectly ripe are delicious!
My favourite cookies are hands down my mom’s shortbreads – we make them every Christmas and they bring together my sister, my mom and I for a couple hours… usually one of the only times in the year we spend together!
Sarah´s last blog post -> My, My, It’s [Canadian] Pie
That looks so delicious, especially with that generous scoop of ice cream!
Cheers,
Rosa
Congrats on finishing school and your new jobs! Good for you. The cake looks amazing. My favorite cookie is my dad’s “frozen cookies.” It is an oatmeal cookie made with chunky applesauce, raisins, chocolate chips, etc. We keep them in the freezer. They are so good!
Maria´s last blog post -> Penny Pinching Pantry Raid
Ooh, my favorite cookie! Hands down: 7-layer cookies from an Italian bakery. I’ve tried making them, and they turn out pretty well, but nothing beats the real thing.
Three thin layers of almond-flavored cake in red, green, and yellow; separated with layers of raspberry and apricot jelly; tops and bottoms covered with a thin layer of chocolate; finished with chocolate sprinkles liberally covering the tops.
Oh, man. I can only get them about once a year when I visit my family in New Jersey.
Kate´s last blog post -> Speed Linking: A Little of This, A Little of That
I don’t know if my last comment posted, but I want to say my favourite cookies of all time are my mom’s shortbreads, since they not only taste beyond divine, but they’re a family tradition every Christmas that bring together my mom, sister and I for a few hours. I treasure the holidays just for the few stolen moments since they are so rarely experienced in our house!
Sarah´s last blog post -> My, My, It’s [Canadian] Pie
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of fruit cakes, but that does look rather tasty.
Congratulations on finishing grad school AND getting jobs you enjoy! (especially in this economy.) Can’t wait to hear about your next super-secret project.
Count me in for the cookie raffle! My favorite cookie (right now) is this white chocolate chip cookie I created the other day. Regular chocolate chip cookie dough with white chocolate chips, made bakery-style. Yum!
Kate´s last blog post -> Lemon pound cake.
That looks delicious. I love fruit desserts in all shapes and forms.
Favorite cookie? Hmm…I love so many, it’s hard to choose. I love shortbread, and chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies the most, I think.
I think chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. They’re a classic!
I love the bowl your cake is in!
My favorite cookie is a Mexican wedding cake (growing up, I knew them as ’snowballs’), for nostalgic reasons. Grandma used to bake them (along with an arsenal of gingersnaps and chocolate chip cookies and pineapple jam thumbprints) every year around Christmas time. These were my favorites, because they’re not too sweet (I’ve never been a candy girl) and they leave just a little bit of powdered sugar on your fingers to lick off at the end.
Your cake looks yummy! I love brown sugar in cakes. Plums aren’t as popular as berries, but I still love them.
Steph´s last blog post -> Wilton Course 2: Final Cake
Mmm looks delicious, and perfect for a warm summer day. My favorite cookies are probably simple oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies. There’s something just so satisfying about them, the mix of sweetness and heartiness.
Now that looks super de;icious…a must try dessert…Yummyyyyyy!!!!!
Oh well and my favorite cookie is Danish cookies made of Cinnamon
Seema´s last blog post -> Mom’s focus on cyberworld giveaway
My favorite cookie is the oatmeal cookie. It is classic, homey and amenable to so many variations.
Martha´s last blog post -> Sour Cream Banana Bars
Love my mom’s Buffalo chip cookies! They have choco chips, corn flakes, coconut, and taste great even stale!
I love plums too, they’re less tart than baked abricots, but they still have the tangy notes I crave for.
My favorite cookies are the ones we make for Christmas, in particular Engadiner, a buttery cookie with whole hazelnuts and raisins
Mélanie´s last blog post -> The first wedding cake : recap, links and advises
My favorite cookie is the heath bar cookie from “simply recipes”~~they’re very fun to make, they turn out perfect every single time, and people go absolutely crazy over them~~the recipe also makes a TON~~my boss requests them each year for his birthday~~they’re so good that i can eat them until i’m almost sick~~i always try to give them away quickly when i make them
My favorite cookies (or should I say my daughter’s favorite cookies) are cookie cutter cookies which include almost everything but the kitchen sink: oatmeal, pecans chocolate chips,… The batter is so thick that I need help to stir them. They transport well. We sent a batch to Afghanistan by military transport. They were a big hit.
WOW! you’ve got a lot on YOUR plate! CONGRATS
My favorite cookie of all time would be the Mexican Wedding Cookie from Stater Brothers Grocery Store in San Bernardino, CA
I have NEVER tasted another cookie like theirs. They can be close, but nobody gets the melt in your mouth/just right amount of confectioners sugar.My mother, grandmother and I have all tried to duplicate them, but they always fall short….
We used to have relatives bring us some from CA every time they came back to LA. I’m sure the airport screeners back then thought they were odd for bringing 2 dozen cookies on a plane!
Thanks Nicole! And I love Mexican Wedding Cookies too… yum. My dad used to bring them home from time to time when I was a kid.
I love the way you baked the plum cake- looks absolutely delicious.
My current favorite cookies are the “triple ginger cookies” from Trader Joe’s because they have wonderful ginger flavor and no weird ingredients. Dipped into a cup of hot tea, they are a treat!
Nupur´s last blog post -> Addictive Green Beans
It’s gotta be warm toll house chocolate chips. It’s my comfort food.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I love the “nest” for ice cream! Thanks for sharing.
(I just saw the cookbook contest, after I already posted a comment)
My favorite cookie is gingerbread.
Thanks!
Amy L´s last blog post -> Have a Happy & Blessed 4th of July!
It is so difficult for me to say which is my favourite cookie. I love all of them, specially if they are homemade. But making and effort to respond I can say that I prefer the chocolate chips ones…..yes …I love them!!!…..And I love plum cakes too!!…..your recipe seems to be delicious!!
Those are so cute!
Shelby´s last blog post -> For Me?!
First, congratulations on finishing your graduate degree and the two very interesting sounding jobs – plus good luck with your move. And your new secret development.
My favorite cookie is a butter cookie which probably goes back at least 100 years and originated in Germany. It was given to my mother by a neighbor who was a refugee from Hitler. The cookie consists of flour, sugar, and eggs and is wonderfully rich. There is nobody who has tasted them and not asked for the recipe.
Thanks Louise and the cookies sound intriguing!
Since we have 2 plum trees I know these will be a hit!!
Oh lucky you to have plum trees in your yard!
You’re right, plums are rather unappreciated!!
You sure have a lot on your plate!! Congratulations on getting jobs that you like!!
My favorite cookie is the old classic – chocolate chip!!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)´s last blog post -> Decorating course… Part 4
This looks divine! Even though I’ve not enjoyed a plum fresh from the fridge, I just may have to make these- my family will sure enjoy it!
My favorite cookie is a snickerdoodle. But not just any- I have a recipe from my grandmother when she taught me how to cook many years ago, and they are sooo delicious. I undercook them just enough that they melt in your mouth even days after they’ve been made. I could eat a batch by myself, and they take will power not to- but better yet is when they are frozen. Mmmmm.
Each cookie reminds me of the times I learned from my grandma– delicious and nostalgic, what could better?
Food that has cherished family memories tied to it is simply the best.
Oatmeal chocolate chip is my favorite! Everybody seems to want raisins in their cookies, but I hate raisins. Chocolate is always better.
Ashley Lee´s last blog post -> Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Chocolate chip with pecans…classic with a twist. Especially good right out of the oven. Reminds me so much of simpler days
Good luck on the move.
Kaye
Kaye´s last blog post -> Vanilla Cinnamon French Toast
my favorite cookie is chocolate chip…i love all things chocolate.
Ari, if you are interested in having the recipe I’ll be glad to send it to you.
I’d love the recipe Louise! Thank you!
Your plum cake is making my stomach growl! Good luck and congrats on all of your new adventures
I can’t resist a chocolate chip cookies, especially if they are soft and gooey. (More stomach growling now!)
Janel´s last blog post -> Mailbox Mambo: Heartburn
The cake looks gorgeous!
favourite cookie is peanut butter choc chip made with smooth peanut butter
Can’t wait to try this–with plums, but also, I’m thinking, with an apricot half, (maybe filled with a little almond paste or a couple cherries). Looks like the possibilities are endless!
Giovanna´s last blog post -> Pounding Pesto
Ari, I have sent the recipe but as I look at the comment I made, I realize I left out the butter that makes them butter cookies – but it is in the ingredient list.
I just saw your email, the recipe looks scrumptious! Thank you for sharing.
mmm, I too love plums–and in a cake, well, I never thought of that.
my favorite cookie is a tough question. I love to say the word Snikerdoodle and how it makes you smile just to think of it. But my true favorite would be a plainer sugar cookie with sprinkles–slightly lemony and not too sweet. Soft, right out of the oven. mmmm, I might go make some now…
Our favorite cookie is the first one I ever made as a bride: a sugar cookie with cream of tarter in the recipe. It is flaky-crisp and melts in your mouth. I still use the same scalloped cookie cutter.
This looks delicious! My favourite cookies is oatmeal chocolate chip….simple and oh so good.
Jan´s last blog post -> Pizza and the Park
do i have to pick just one? that’s difficult – there is such a wide variety. and different “needs” require different cookies. if pushed i guess i would go w/ pecan crescents which are a version of mexican wedding cookies.
Congratulations on the new jobs — and the new apartment! Still in New Haven or have you moved elsewhere in the state?
My favorite cookie would be Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies. I know they’re considered lowbrow by the foodie community, but I don’t care. To me they will always embody afternoons in my grandmother’s kitchen, helping her bake. A grandmother’s love is a secret ingredient no NYT recipe can ever beat.
sprite´s last blog post -> let’s say it with firecrackers
I don’t think of them as lowbrow. I agree with you, they’re delicious! They make me think of being a kid and dipping a warm cookie into a glass of milk while watching cartoons on Saturday morning.
This is my all time fav. peanut butter cookie for the cafe and at home…just 4 ingredients! And gluten free for those who care!
1cup peanut butter
1cup sugar
1T baking soda
1egg
we bake in convect oven at 325. for about 10 minutes…for us timing varies according to the flour, the weather…etc.
These cookies are very fragile until fully cooled.
My favorite are shortbread cookies. I thought they were really difficult to make (because they were so yummy) until I finally decided to try them during the first year I was married. They are sooooo easy!!! And still so yummy.
Congratulations on your graduation!
My favorite cookie is rugelach.
Thank you! And ooo, rugelach is one of my favorites too.
Congratulations Ari! I know how hard it is to balance school with life responsibilities. Quite an accomplishment!
Our favorite cookie is called the “clothespin” cookie. It has been on our family’s Christmas dessert table as long as I can remember. It’s kind of like a miniature ladylock. Flakey pastry dough wrapped around clothespins, baked and cooled. They are filled with a fluffy, creamy marshmallow filling. Yum! I make 300 to 400 of these every Christmas so everyone can take some home.
Those sound like some crazy good cookies! I’d never heard of clothespin cookies before.
I don’t have a single favorite cookie, but there are several in rotation; pencil cookies, (I’ve seen this jam filled cookie with many names.)aggression cookies,(the more you beat up on the brown sugar/oatmeal dough, the creamier the cookie!)and peanut butter are among the top favorites.
Your plum entry reminded me of the Greengage Plum Ice Cream from The Kings’ Arm Tavern in Williamsburg, VA.
My favorite cookie is just a really good chocolate chip cookie. I have found a recipe from Cooks Illustrated that just sets my heart on fire (and the dough freezes wonderfully). I keep trying new recipes though because you can never have too many chocolate chip cookie recipes!
My grandmothers soft molasses cookie has to be my favorite.
cindy´s last blog post -> SUNDAY HIIT
are cream crackers considered cookies ? they’re square, almost tasteless, a little salty and very crunchy. Perfect when dipped in hot Milo (a malt drink)
My fiance’s mom makes the most delicious anise and almond biscotti…. paired with coffee it’s unbeatable.
Congratulations on your graduation! My favorite cookies are from Publix (a grocery store chain in the south). They’re called Calypso Cookies- they have coconut and pecans in them. So addictive!
My all-time favorite cookie is from a recipe from Pioneer Boulangerie in Santa Monica CA. It’s like a shortbread or maybe a Mexican wedding cake with chocolate chips. Heavenly, simple to make, easy for kids to do, and one recipe makes about 100 little cookies.
I love plums. Still annoyed that my husband doesn’t like most stone fruits.
I love most cookies I’ve experienced, but my favorite to make are probably the Absolutely Deep Dark Chocolate Fudge cookies from the Death by Chocolate cookbook. After college, I would use them as bribes to get my roommates to do more of the kitchen cleaning (so I could do less of it natch). They were also my favorite cookie for making cookie crusts for cheesecake and pie. Nowadays though, I mostly go for lighter molasses and spice cookies.
Seanna Lea´s last blog post -> searching for new running routes
favorite cookie… what a hard choice, but i think i would have to settle for a chewy, rich chocolate chip cookie… and warm
i love a good chewy cookie and who can say no to chocolate? 
YAY you’re back! I kept checking back wondering where you were. To add to that there weren’t any tweets (or prob I missed them because of the timezone difference?). Anyway, I’m very happy you’re back!
Love how you’ve scooped out the top of the cake to expose the plums. You are so right about plums. With the berries, peaches and cherries taking centre stage, there is hardly any time to notice plums!
I just discovered my favourite cookie over the weekend – black forest cookie!
The Purple Foodie´s last blog post -> Black Forest Cookies
Wow! Thank you for the warm welcome back.
What is a black forest cookie? It sounds like something decadent and chocolate (?) and probably very yummy.
yummy cake,i love fruit cakes. my fav cookies is a pistachio chocolate cookie.
It’s a tie for me between two classics. Peanut Butter or good ol’ Chocolate Chip. Either makes me a happy camper.
(Beautiful cake!)
Abby´s last blog post -> Butterscotch Thins
My favorite cookies are any cookies with chocolate chunks in them, from simple chocolate chip cookies to gooey fudge cookies. I am a chocoholic so anything to do with chocolate taste, I’m all for it.
Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip cookie!
you can’t beat the classic, chocolate chip cookies with milk.
Congratulations on both jobs, they sound perfect for you. Good luck with the move.
I am also a lover of plums. Nothing says summer to me like biting into a sweet juicy plum and having the juice drip all over my fingers. If I happen to find some that are perfectly ripe, I usually eat them all in one sitting.
I love baking and eating ginger cookies. At Christmas I make dozens of them to give away to friends and family and I love how the house smells as they are baking.
That it is a real plums cake.. wonderful, to be tested as soon as possible!!
congrats on finishing grad school!! i agree, plums to get the short end of the stick, but this looks just lovely. glad i just picked up some plums
ttfn300´s last blog post -> I miss my grill
My favorite cookie is chocolate chip. Yummy!
Just found your site recently and have enjoyed it immensely. Trying to choose just one cookie as my favorite is a difficult chore at best, because I believe that a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. I make an Austrian cookie called “Linzer Augen”, which is a cookie made with ground almonds. The cookie is a sandwich, with holes in the top (augen is the German word for eyes)and a raspberry jam in the center. They are so tasty. Count me in for your raffle.
Ha! I love that: “a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.”
I’m glad you found my site and have been enjoying it!
I’ve never had a plum cake but that looks delicious!
My favorite kind of cookie is peanut butter cookies! I’m also a big fan of shortbread and gingersnaps.
Sagan´s last blog post -> How does music affect your health?
The plum cake sounds and looks delicious!! My favorite kind of cookie would have to be the regular old chocolate chip. there is nothing like one straight from the oven!
Deborah´s last blog post -> Chocolate-Hazelnut Meringue Kisses
When I was living abroad, my husband-to-be won my heart by sending me triple chocolate espresso cookies, which are still my favorite.
Emily´s last blog post -> Baked quinoa with spinach and cheese
He sounds like a catch!
My favorite cookies are the double chocolate because I love how they have a fudgy texture and deep taste just like a brownie.
I love simple chocolate, chocolate chip, pecan cookies (dipped in chocolate ganache). . .if you’re going to have dessert than I highly recommend chocolate. You could always take two and add a little chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream between them. . .makes for a nice snack.
Love your blog.
Thanks Rae!
Those jobs sound great! And the sponge is oh so tempting…
OK, here goes: my favourite cookies are the type that delightfully appear midway through hosting a student’s dinnerparty, perfectly timed to coincide with clearing away the plates, amidst silly conversation. They tend to involve oats, ginger and golden syrup, in my opinion, and are best served finger-burningly warm from the oven… Not very specific, I’m afraid – most of the joy comes from the company, and the cookies are just a pleasurable aside!
Rosie´s last blog post -> Making The Masterpiece: Today Matters
When I was growing up, we had two plum trees that we used to harvest the fruit from. It was so nice because we had instant access to “snacks” all summer long.
I think my favorite cookie is Bety Crocker Sandwich cookies(flacky pastry wafers w buttery icing filling)and snowballs(Mexican Wedding Cookies).
I found your food blog going through a few links. Glad I ran into it. Didn’t know that the food blog community was so big. I love your posts!
I was wondering if you would like to exchange links. I’ll drop yours on my site and you drop mine on yours. Email at ramendays@yahoo.com or stop by my site and drop a comment. Let me know if you would like to do a link exchange.
Cheers,
Caleb
http://www.ramendays.com
Oh my. Plum season hasn’t started here in New England yet. But, now I know what to do with the extras once it does. My hubby and I are also planning on buying a couple of plum trees for our yard next year.
My favorite cookie to eat is hands down a real NY bakery black and white cookie. Up here, they can’t seem to figure it out. They ice the wrong side, or use a thick, soft frosting.
My favorite cookie to bake are peanut butter, oatmeal, white chocolate chip. They’re easy, and everyone loves them.
Good luck in the packing and moving!
This looks delicious-my favorite cookies-hermits-with lots of raisins and pecans.
Esmeralda´s last blog post -> Giveaway for Off Season
That cake looks yummy! My all-time favorite cookie is a cranberrry-pistachio shortbread that people fight over! I’ve taken to make them as birthday gifts for my friends – they can decide if they want to share or not!
mmm that plum cake looks delicious!!
my fave cookie is a raspberry jam thumbprint cookie. i could eat 12 of them in one sitting and still yearn for more
Ari this is so appetizing.
Cynthia´s last blog post -> Cooking… In Someone else’s Kitchen
You surviving grad school gives me hope for myself!
My favorite cookie is my old family recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I’ve made it so many times that I don’t even need the recipe anymore! The have the power to brighten even the worst of days, so I call them my “Bad Day Cookies”
I survived and you will too! The last semester was the hardest. I was so ready to be DONE.
my favorite cookie changes quite a bit… but if you asked me today it would have to be smore cookies. YUM!
Delicious!
Paz
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