‘Let them Eat Cake’ is a phrase you may have heard. Let them eat Plum Cake I say, or rather ‘Plum Squares’.
Some sources attribute this historic quote to Marie-Antoinette (wife of King Louis XVI) c 1798 who said “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”—translated as “Let them eat cake” after being told her French subjects had no bread. Others say it was a ‘great princess’ … but I am not here to quibble, especially as I have enough plums to make cake for the neighbourhood.
This little beauty was very light and delicious. While this is a plum cake it would lend itself to work well with any stone fruit. The acidity of the plums is in tasty contrast to the sweetness of the light sponge base.
So light is the sponge base in fact, several of the plums didn’t quite manage to suspend on the surface of the batter and dropped into the sponge whilst baking. Not that I am complaining, it was a hit in this household and I’m delighted to see it featured on Love Food Hate Waste‘s website too.
Plum Squares
Makes: 16 squares
Ingredients
- 125g butter, softened
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3 eggs
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup flour (or gluten free flour)
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 8 plums (16 halves)
- icing sugar to dust
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C, fan bake.
- Line a square baking tin with grease-proof paper.
- Beat softened butter and sugar for several minutes until light.
- Add salt then eggs one at a time, beating for a minute between each added egg.
- Sift flour and baking powder into the mix and using a spatula fold well together but don’t over mix.
- Spread batter into square baking tin. Half the plums and remove the stone. Press each half gently into the batter (skin side down).
- Bake for approx 25 mins. Cool and dust with icing sugar.
Not only is it a great excuse to fill up your baking tin it is also a yummy dessert with lashing of vanilla yoghurt or a dollop of cream on the side.
Check out my other #plum usage ideas — click the tag below.
