Plum and custard cake: A twist on a classic that delights

Looking for a recipe for something unique that will surprise your guests and family? A plum cake may seem like a traditional bake, but it becomes the hit of every gathering when you enrich it with one secret ingredient. My experiment with the classic plum cake exceeded my wildest expectations – my wife and mother-in-law couldn't get enough of it. The secret lies in the layer of creamy custard, which adds not only exceptional flavour to the cake but also moisture, making it disappear from plates in no time.

To prepare this unique cake, you don’t need a lot of time or complicated ingredients. Just a few basic products that most of us always have in the kitchen.

Ingredients for custard:

    
• 1 package of cream or vanilla custard powder (for 470 ml of milk),
• 470 ml of milk,
• 2 tablespoons of sugar.

Preparation of custard:

Prepare the custard according to the instructions on the package. In a pot, bring the milk to a boil, add the sugar and custard powder, stirring until a smooth, creamy mass forms. After cooking, set the custard aside to cool, covering it with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming.

Ingredients for the cake:

                
• 140 grams butter,
• 140 grams fine baking sugar,
• 4 large eggs,
• 200 grams all-purpose flour,
• 85 grams sour cream,
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder,
• cooked and cooled custard,
• 500 grams plums, pitted and halved.

Preparation of the cake:

1. Start by creaming the butter with the sugar in a mixer bowl. The butter should be at room temperature to easily combine with the sugar and form a light, fluffy mass. Cream for a few minutes until the mixture is light and creamy.
2. Next, add the eggs one by one, constantly mixing until each egg is thoroughly combined with the mass. It's important not to add all the eggs at once – adding them one at a time ensures the cake will have the proper texture. At this stage, you may notice the mixture looks slightly curdled – don't worry, this is normal and won't affect the final result.
3. Add sour cream to the creamed mixture along with sifted all-purpose flour mixed with baking powder. Gently mix everything with a spatula to ensure the ingredients are well combined. Remember not to overmix—the goal is just to combine the ingredients, not overprocess them.
4. Prepare a 23 x 33 cm baking pan by lining it with parchment paper. Evenly spread the prepared batter on the bottom of the pan.
5. Next, spoon the custard on top of the batter – you don’t need to do this evenly; spoon it in intervals. This will allow the custard to distribute during baking, giving the cake an exciting texture and additional moisture. Finally, place the plums on top and cut the side up.
6. Place the cake in an oven preheated to 160-170ºC (without convection). Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. After baking, set the cake aside to cool in the pan.

This simple plum and custard cake is a perfect dessert for any occasion. The addition of grated lemon zest gives it a unique aroma and freshness. Try this recipe and see how easy it is to add variety to traditional baking.