Easy Polish Plum Cake

Polish plum cake features a light and fluffy sponge topped with sweet, juicy plums. It’s simple, easy to make and contains a handful of ingredients. This delicious autumnal treat is perfect served with coffee or tea.

Polish plum cake ('placek ze śliwkami' in Polish) is a delicious, easy to make seasonal dessert using fresh plums that comes together quickly and involves minimal effort. It’s made with baking powder rather than yeast, contains a moderate amount of sugar and is low in saturated fat (I used oil instead of butter). You do not need an expensive mixer, either – a simple hand mixer will suffice.

Plums are one of the most popular fruits in Poland, widely used in baking as well as cooking (including in their dried form, for example in sauerkraut stew and dried fruit compote). Plum cakes in Poland can be made using different methods and ingredients, such as yeast (this one often has a streusel topping), as well as short crust pastry (similar to Polish apple cake and plesniak cake).

This particular recipe is the easiest and quickest Polish-style plum cake. Preparation takes minutes and you’ll have a delicious dessert ready in just over an hour!

Polish plum cake ingredients and substitutions

• Plums: use ripe but firm plums.
• Flour: you do not need to sift it.
• Baking powder.
• Eggs.
• Oil: I used vegetable oil (rapeseed) but you can use another neutral tasting oil if preferred. This type of cake can also be made with butter, but the mixture often curdles once you add the eggs, which never happens when using oil. I also find that oil produces a lighter, fluffier sponge.
• Sugar: use regular granulated sugar.
• Demerara sugar: use brown sugar instead if preferred.
• Vanilla extract.
• Lemon zest.

What plums to use

Polish plum cake is usually made with oval-shaped prune plums, which are very common in Poland. However, this cake will work with any plums so use your favourite or whichever variety is available where you are.

Step-by-step recipe instructions

1.Prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350F/180C/160 fan/gas mark 4. Grease a 23 cm/9-inch cake pan (use 1 teaspoon of butter or spread) and line with parchment paper leaving overhang. Set aside.

2. Cut plums: Cut the plums into quarters (or halves if they are small) and discard the pits. Set aside.

3. Prepare dry mixture: Using a whisk stir together the flour and baking powder until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

4. Prepare wet mixture: Beat together the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla extract on medium speed for about 5 minutes until the mixture is thick and creamy. Add the lemon zest.

5. Add dry ingredients: Using a whisk gradually stir in the dry mixture just to combine. Do not overstir the batter.

6. Add plums: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the plums skin side down close together in a single layer on top of the batter. Sprinkle the demerara sugar over the top.

TIP: The plums will sink slightly into the batter. It’s important to bake the cake immediately to prevent them sinking in too much.

7. Bake: Place in the centre of the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Lift the cake out of the pan (it can still be slightly warm) and place on a rack to cool completely before cutting.

Serving suggestions

Polish-style plum cake is usually served with a dusting of powdered/icing sugar but you can omit it and serve it simply as it is. A scoop of vanilla ice cream will also go nicely with this dessert.

Top tips

• Use your favourite plums. Small plums can be cut in half, but I recommend cutting large plums into quarters (as I have done). Rinse then dry them thoroughly before cutting.
• Do not overstir the batter.
• Bake the cake as soon as you’ve added the plums.
• While this easy plum cake is best eaten the day it was baked you can refrigerate leftovers, covered, and enjoy for up to 2 days.
• Freezing: Place in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.

More Polish desserts to try next

• Polish Rogaliki (Rugelach) Crescent Cookies
• Polish Babka Recipe (No Yeast)
• Polish Walnut Cake (Tort Orzechowy)

See also these other delicious, easy desserts as well as more traditional Polish recipes!

Recipe

Keep in touch!

If you make this easy Polish plum cake recipe I’d love to know how it turned out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks:)

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