German Plum Cake (Zwetschgenkuchen)

Back when I posted the strawberry pie, my husband had really been wanting to make this plum cake.  We were out looking to see if the prune plums were in the produce department, when he realized he had not made the strawberry pie this year, and decided to do it.  I mention this because the plum cake has the same crust/cake as the strawberry pie.  I know, one is called a cake and one a pie, so how could they use the same dough?  I think the reasoning is that the plums are cooked on the cake instead of added after like the strawberries.  This is another one of his mom's recipes.  She was very adamant that you had to use prune plums.  Prune plums are the plums used to make prunes, though they don't really taste like prunes unless you dry them.  They are small dark plums that are a bit sweeter and dryer than most plums, and they are only available for a short time.  At least where we live, that is right now.

Plum Cake

yield:  serves 8

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups sugar

4 Tbsp. milk

1/2 cup (1 stick butter)

2 eggs

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 lbs. prune plums, quartered 

1/4 cup sugar or to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 11 x 16 inch jelly roll pan (like a cookie sheet with a little bit of a side instead of just flat) with parchment.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Pour onto a cutting board and shape into a round mound of flour.  Cut butter into thin slices and arrange around the top.  Put the sugar around the top over the butter.  Create a well in the center and add milk, vanilla, and eggs.  Mix together with you hands until it holds together.  Shape the dough into a round and place in the center of the pan.  Press the dough over the bottom of the pan beginning with the center and working out.  Place plum quarters skin side down over the dough.  Sprinkle with sugar.  I have to add that 1/4 is an estimate, since my husband is not sure exactly how much he used.  Bake for 35 or 40 minutes or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool completely in pan.

This recipe was shared on Foodie Friends Friday.