Treat yourself to a slice of this Vanilla Plum Shortcrust Cake, where the sweet tartness of plums meets the creamy richness of vanilla, all encased in a buttery shortcrust.
Ingredients:
For the Shortcrust Pastry:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
For the Vanilla Cream:
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 3 heaping tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or seeds from one vanilla pod
For the Topping:
- About 700g (1 1/2 pounds) plums
For Dusting:
- Icing sugar
Instructions:
- Begin with the shortcrust pastry by mixing flour, butter, sugar, egg, and baking powder to form a smooth dough. Refrigerate one-third of the dough for later use.
- For the vanilla cream, heat most of the milk in a saucepan. Combine the cornstarch, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and remaining milk in a bowl. Gradually whisk this mixture into the heated milk. Cook until thickened, then cool.
- Preheat your oven to 170°C (338°F) and grease a 26 cm springform pan. Press the larger portion of the dough into the pan, forming an edge along the sides.
- Pour the cooled vanilla cream over the dough.
- Halve and pit the plums, then arrange them on top of the cream, cut-side up. Sprinkle with a little sugar if desired.
- Crumble the remaining dough and scatter over the plums.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes until golden. Allow the cake to cool in the pan.
- Once cool, dust with icing sugar to serve.
This Vanilla Plum Shortcrust Cake is a wonderful dessert that’s sure to please all who try it, perfect for late summer when plums are at their best. Enjoy the harmony of flavors and textures in every bite! 🍑🍰👩🏻🍳
