Brown Sugar Plum Cakes … sweet summer dreams!
Logan Pearsall Smith
“Do you realize that we have had no dessert to eat for many days?”…a voice rang out from behind me as I walked to the kitchen. I pretended nonchalantly not to hear; didn’t even bat an eyelid! It was the boy speaking up. LOL….”Yes”, I said to myself silently, “I do, and was waiting for this to come, only it took a little longer than I expected.”
I’ve treated them to a deluge of desserts this summer, celebrating the presence of stone fruits day in and day out. Then suddenly, one day, the dessert mojo in me just got up & went. It was hot & I’ve been in no mood to dish out ‘sweet anythings’. These are times where I just want to sit in a heap doing nothing at all … just want to sit & read, listen to music, take pictures, twitter or blog hop. 
Kids are creatures of habit, at least mine are. I got into a stone fruit frenzy the whole July through, and other than a handful of days, we always had a fruity dessert after dinner. Peaches, plums, apricots, mangoes, and a few cherries. Then one day zilch. Nothing. The next day, same again. The kids soon got used to enjoying a bowl of chilled yogurt after dinner. They pretty much settled into this routine, till the ‘accusation‘ rang loud in the air! He shook me out of my sweet languor … I’m glad he did. 
I had bought a bunch of plums the other day that were sitting in the fridge calling to be made into dessert. I think that’s why I buy so much fruit, but sometimes lose the ‘get up & go’ to ‘dessert them’. On my mind was a Brown Sugar Plum Cake that Ari @ Baking and Books had posted back in July. I saw it quite late, but immediately fell in love with the simplicity, & the idea of plums within. 
Unfortunately for the poor plum, I have always underestimated this fruit; have allowed the peach far greater attention. I have used peaches extensively this season alone, and often in combination with plums. I treated the poor plums like a fruit that happened to be there because it’s summer, rather than a fruit that celebrates summer. Ari’s post changed my entire perspective and gave plums a whole new identity, making me me look at them again. Yes, they need a standing ovation! 
The plums sank to the bottom even though I left them peeping out. Maybe I pushed them in a wee bit extra. So, ten minutes into baking, I thought I’d top the batter with another half of plum, but the batter flowed out. So I hurriedly sliced the other halves and topped the remaining 4 ramekins with slices. Maybe I should have made 7 ramekins…just a thought.
This is an excellent make ahead summer dessert. We loved it served at room temperature. I did a couple of changes from Ari’s recipe. The main one being using buttermilk instead of whole milk. Had used buttermilk previously as a substitute in these Dark Chocolate, Craisin & Walnut Scones that I had made from a David Lebovitz recipe, where the buttermilk worked quite well. Also used vanilla sugar instead of plain sugar. I love the deep flavour vanilla sugar adds to baking, especially paired with summer fruits, so I always have a 2 cup jar of vanilla sugar ready.
BROWN SUGAR PLUM CAKESAdapted from Ari @ Baking and Books
Adapted by Ari from Baking with Julia, by Dorie Greenspan.
Makes 6 single-serving cakes
Ingredients:
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup vanilla 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 buttermilk
4 ripe plums, halved and pitted
Special equipment: 6 small ramekins or oven-safe baking dishes
Method:-
Preheat your oven to 180C. Lightly grease the ramekins/baking dishes with a neutral oil.
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Place the butter, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and the vanilla sugar together in a bowl & cream 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.
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On low speed add the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, then the baking soda, beating for 15 seconds. Add the buttermilk and mix again for a few seconds, then finish the mixing process by hand to prevent over mixing the batter.
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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. Sprinkle with almond slivers if you like.
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Place the dishes on a cookie pan, then bake for 25-30 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.
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These cakes will keep for one day, wrapped airtight and at room temperature.
♥ Thank you for stopping by ♥
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
37 Comments
Dawn
your photos are so pretty, I know that sounds lame, but you do take such pretty photos.
A brown sugar dough is the best isn't it?
Jamie
These little cakes are too beautiful! I am just seeing the market stalls piled high with delicious plums and I must absolutely try this recipe. Just wonderful! And your desserts always come out fabulous, no wonder boy demands dessert every night!
Zita
Aww…so perfectly done Deeba, love the pretty with the plum red touch… georgeus pictures 🙂
Alejandra
These are gorgeous! I understand that lack of desire to bake sometimes. The heat kills…but you came back beautifully!
Rosa's Yummy Yums
Irresistible! Those little cakes are exactly to my liking!
Cheers,
Rosa
pigpigscorner
Gorgeous pictures! I want one with some ice-cream please =)
gine
yummy ^^ … lovely pictures!! XOXO
lisa (dandysugar.com
I love plums and this is a great way to incorporate them into a dessert dish. The brown sugar dough sounds very intriguing. Love the individual dishes, it's always nice to have your own dessert, isn't it?
Mamatkamal
I love plums and your little cakes look absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for those lovely pictures.
Bellini Valli
I'd say yes to plum cakes morning noon and night Deeba. As always such beautiful photos to inspire us.
Gera @ SweetsFoods
Deeba some days without dessert is sinful…positively a excellent summer treat with this delightful cake!
Cheers,
Gera
Jennifer
Your photos are beautiful!!! This plum cake with brown sugar sounds amazing! yum!
Julia @ Mélanger
It is funny how you can love baking so much, but then sometimes you don't want to tackle it at all. I don't blame you having a day or two break. Especially in the summer! Can only imagine that + hot oven. Ouch! Love these cakes. I do enjoy all stone fruit, including plums. I love the combination of fruit in cake. So wonderful!
Kerstin
What pretty little plum cakes, they look so good!
Barbara Bakes
I too have neglected the plum. I have never cooked with it. Your dessert looks like a perfect one to try!
emily
These photos are lovely! It sounds delicious!
♥♥♥Ria♥♥♥
Beautiful cakes Deeba!
Snooky doodle
These are beautiful! I sometimes feel like not baking too especially in this heat.
Parita
Yummy cakes deeba, i like the combination of plums and brown sugar, u can send these to BSI:Brown Sugar event if you like 🙂
shaz
Absolutely beautiful Deeba. I know how you feel though – some days the mojo just ain't there. But you look like you got your groove back and then some! 🙂
meeso
Lovely, delicious, I love what brown sugar can do!
Divya Kudua
Looks awesome..as usual.You tempt us with your wonderful photos..:)
Manggy
Oh dear, what Rohan wants, Rohan gets huh? You missed an opportunity to teach him to start making his own desserts to ease your load, haha 🙂
I love these little cakes though… Plums go so well with the light molasses-y flavor of brown sugar 🙂
Room design studio
Yummmm… not at the dessert only, but also at the plate!
Avanika [YumsiliciousBakes]
I remember seeing these over at Ari's site, and loving them then! Now that you've made them, it just endorses the fact!! I dont like plums though, so I'll probably substitute with peaches!! Lovee the pictures on this one!
Arfi Binsted
love plums. they are the first stone-fruit will be available in our orchard in late Spring onwards. i often preserve them, bottling, making plum cheese and jam, for instance. your cakes look inviting, Deeba 🙂 enjoy your Summer.
Miakoda
I love how you sat it out and let the kids come to you…hahaha, but then, everyone wins with a beautiful dessert like this. Love the use of plums! 🙂
Arwen from Hoglet K
It's almost lucky your plum sank, since you get a bonus slice on top and a surprise plum in the middle. It's gratifying that your son missed your desserts too.
JUlie
Ha – those are bookmarked in my Baking with Julia book – have been for YEARS! Thanks for prodding me to get on that! they do look gorgeous, don't they?? Perhaps made with browned butter…
Soma
How lovely these look! your recipes are so sensational. a teensy bit of ice cream on the side would do great with these.
Dhanggit
this is so perfect with a hot coffee!! love the brown sugar on it!!
Cakebrain
what gorgeous pictures! the plums look fantastic in this dessert!
Elle
I just love plums! And they're great for baking with because sometimes they can be so sour, and not sweeten up until you bake them. And as always, your photos are stunning!
Jennifer, The Lady Riposter
These look delicious! I'll have o make them when I find some great plums!
5 Star Foodie
These cakes sound wonderful! I love that you used almond extract – goes so well with the plum flavor!
diva
oo they do deserve a standing ovation! and in fact, i love plums more than i do peaches. black plums red plums yum yum xx
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
Hehe I love your son's quote at the beginning. You know he's been counting the days too! But how well he was rewarded for his patience! 😉