Plum Cake with Streusel Topping Recipe

This traditional German-style plum cake features a delightful combination of a crispy shortcrust base, a creamy vanilla pudding layer, and a generous topping of fresh plums and sweet streusel. It’s a classic late summer treat that balances the tartness of plums with the sweetness of the pudding and streusel, perfect for enjoying with a cup of coffee or tea.

Why You’ll Love This: This plum cake is a seasonal favorite that showcases the richness of plums with a comforting, homey base and topping. The combination of textures from the crispy crust, soft pudding, and crunchy streusel makes each bite satisfying. It’s a festive dish that’s perfect for gatherings and can easily be the centerpiece of a dessert table.

Perfect Occasion: Ideal for a Sunday brunch, family gatherings, or any occasion where you want to impress with a homemade dessert. It’s especially popular during the plum season at the end of summer and early autumn.

Decoration Tips: Before serving, dust the cake with powdered sugar for a sweet, decorative finish. Garnish with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to complement the flavors and textures of the cake.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

For the Shortcrust Pastry (Mürbeteig):

• 250 g all-purpose flour
• 1/2 packet baking powder
• 80 g sugar
• 125 g room temperature butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 packet bourbon vanilla sugar

For the Pudding Mixture:

• 400 ml milk
• 1 packet vanilla pudding powder
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 200 g sour cream

For the Topping:

• 650-700 g plums, pitted and halved

For the Streusel:

• 35 g cold butter
• 60 g flour
• 30 g sugar
• 1 packet vanilla sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Shortcrust Pastry:
   • In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, butter, egg, cinnamon, and vanilla sugar. Knead until smooth.
   • Press the dough into a 24 cm or 26 cm springform pan and refrigerate.
2. Make the Pudding Mixture:
   • Prepare the pudding according to the package instructions using 400 ml of milk and 4 tbsp of sugar. Stir in the sour cream until smooth.
   • Let the pudding mixture cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
3. Prepare the Streusel:
   • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, and cinnamon. Knead until the mixture forms crumbly streusel.
4. Assemble the Cake:
   • Spread the lukewarm pudding over the chilled shortcrust pastry.
   • Arrange the halved plums on top of the pudding.
   • Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the plums.
5. Baking:
   • Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F).
   • Bake the cake for about 60 minutes or until the streusel is golden and the plums are tender.
   • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 hours before serving.
6. Serve:
   • Serve the cake with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for added delight.

This Plum Cake with Streusel Topping is a beautiful blend of flavors and textures, making it a beloved dessert for both plum lovers and those new to this traditional German treat. Enjoy the seasonal goodness and the joy of baking something truly special.