This week’s Tuesdays with Dorie was selected by Becky of Project Domestication. Dorie described this cake best when she said it has “down-home, not-in-the-least-fussy-good-looks.” It’s the kind of cake you might make when you have last minute dinner guests and need a quick, but delicious, dessert. It’s so easy you can whip it up even if you’re in the midst of preparing pulled pork in your slow cooker and jambalaya on your stove top. Usually attempting a dessert when my kitchen is already bustling with activity is a recipe for disaster but not this one.
Italian prune plums are tossed with sugar, cinnamon, coriander, and ginger and set aside to macerate while a quick batter is thrown together with just a bowl and whisk. The batter is poured into a baking dish on top of hot melted butter and the fruit is scattered over the top. Into the oven it goes, where the fruit settles to the bottom and the batter rises to cover it. I halved the recipe and baked it in an oval baking dish, which was probably a tad too small, but it worked out nonetheless.
(Random side note – we registered for these colorful bowls when we got married almost 5 years ago and they’re still my favorite. Love the variety of sizes and the pop of color, they make me happy!)
This isn’t the kind of cake you slice into neat pieces – the texture is soft and it’s best dished out with a big spoon and topped with vanilla ice cream. I was a little wary – Dorie used the word “pudding” to describe the cake, and that texture didn’t sound appealing to me, but I wound up loving it. The moist, buttery cake sitting on the sweet, juicy plums was such a delicious combination. It almost reminded me of a cobbler-type dessert. I sent most of the cake home with my mom and my stepfather emailed me less than 12 hours later to say he’d finished it already and that it was outstanding. I think it’d work with a variety of fruits and I definitely plan to make it again to find out!
Many thanks to Becky for hosting! She’ll share the recipe for the plum cake on her blog today or you can find it on page 42 of Baking: From My Home to Yours.
Ha, I was just about to mention your fun colorful bowls when you did so yourself. Love them.
I used peaches in the cake–it was a bit hit (even though I thought it was strange and kind of ugly). 😉
Tracey, you photo is beautiful. I also love your colorful bowls! My kids have been giving me Fiesta Ware. I love colorful dishes. They just make me happy!
This dessert also made me happy. it was perfect.
This looks great with ice cream. I wish I would have made mine in a smaller pan so the cake part wasn’t so skinny.
I love the multi set of bowls! I think I need to add those to my Christmas list.
Oh I love those bowls too!! are those the ones from williams-sonoma, the nesting ones? love nesting bowls lol, less storage dilemma.
your cake looks so homey and inviting. and high five for topping it with ice cream! i did too. necessary, if you ask me 😉
ALl of your pictures make me feel warm and cozy inside! I love the bowls and everything! Your cake looks amazing! Im glad you enjoyed this recipe too. I can’t wait to make it again!
Happy Fall Baking!
@Jeannette – I think they were from Crate and Barrel actually. Probably not available anymore sadly…
It looks luscious! Sometimes the messiest desserts are the best tasting. 🙂
I’m not surprised to hear your cake was gone so quickly. I’ve made it a few times and always woken up to find it gone by morning. My children seem to be up all night eating.
I’m jealous of those gorgeous bowls.
Your photos are beautiful and so appetizing! Love this recipe!
What a lovely cake/pudding. Looks like a great Autumn dessert.
Tracey, what a gorgeous cake! I love fruity desserts…and this is no exception…yummy~
Looks absolutely delicious…Bang goes the diet !
I love plums in anything. They are so underused! Love this idea. It sounds delightful.
I love colorful bowls also. It sets the tone for cooking. Your bowls and your flip over cake are a success.
Your plum cake looks so good with the vanilla bean icecream on top – delicious!
Jack really like this. It reminded him of desserts his Nana used to make. Thanks for sharing it!
haha your slice didn’t come out as neat but it looks yummier with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream! 🙂 love the bowls, too!
Love your photos
This sounds so good. Another one I shouldn’t have skipped!
CAnnot believe I didn’t comment on this one last year. Lovely photo. Beautiful tart.
I just made it today.