German Plum Cake

"This cake is actually known as Zwetschgendatschi in Bavaria, where it is most popular. Roughly translated from Bavarian to German, it would be called Pflaumenkuchen or plum cake in English. BUT Zwetschgen aren't ordinary plums, a Datschi isn't really a Kuchen, and a Kuchen is most definitely not a cake! Or at least not a tall, spongy cake -- it's flatter. Ideally, for this dessert you want the slightly tart Italian plums. If you do have to use another type of plum, be careful the variety you choose isn't too juicy."
 
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photo by DeniseNC photo by DeniseNC
photo by DeniseNC
photo by aseret66 photo by aseret66
photo by Ms.sixma photo by Ms.sixma
photo by Ms.sixma photo by Ms.sixma
photo by Ms.sixma photo by Ms.sixma
Ready In:
1hr 5mins
Ingredients:
14
Yields:
1 cake
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ingredients

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directions

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter, add the sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon peel, sour cream and salt (if desired).
  • Mix the flour and baking powder and add that into the mixture.
  • Grease the base of a round baking pan and spread the dough over the pan.
  • Liberally spread plums over the dough.
  • To make the optional topping, cream the butter, add flour, sugar and cinnamon.
  • Sprinkle over the plums and bake for 30-45 minutes in the middle rack at 375 F.
  • Be careful not to let the bottom burn!
  • Serve with lots of freshly-made whipped cream.
  • If you like, you may also sprinkle rum or cinnamon over the fruit before baking.

Questions & Replies

  1. I am making cake for Oktoberfest. I need a LOT of plumb cake, it's one of the best selling items. All the recipes make such a small amount. I am looking to make at least 4 full size sheet pans. How can I increase the recipe to fit 1 full sized sheet pan?
     
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Reviews

  1. Excellent plum kuchen. How ever I did make some changes to the recipe. I used 1 1/4 cups of flour for the batter. I followed the topping ingredients exactly. I sprinkled some brandy liquor mixed with some rum flavoring over the plum slices. My springform pan is an 8" that's what I used. I also found it necessary to put the kuchen under the broiler for less than 2 minutes, to slightly brown the crumb topping,and I used a heaping tablespoon (measure) of sour cream for the batter. My results were wonderful. This is a Keeper. Enjoy See My Photo (aseret66)
     
  2. As a child we had a German elderly couple who lived across the fence. Often they would send a plum cake and we would eat it all before it hit the table.it was so yummy. I was looking for that cake when I tried this recipe. But as for this cake.... The flavors were great, but the density of the base cake was too thick. next time I will decrease the flour by 3/4 cups (or so) and hopefully it will lighten and seem more moist. In the top I will decreas the flour too. I could sure taste the flour in the crumb topping.
     
  3. This was the best cake I have ever made and my family loved it. It was so surprising, because I was just looking for something to do with plum. Amazing.
     
  4. this cake was very good, i used strawberries instead of plums, because i prefer strawberries. it was delicious and my husband loved it, which is awesome because he is not a fan of cake at all. it also tasted similar to coffee cakes i have had in germany. thanks for the recipe
     
  5. This is an excellent way to use up two cups of super-sour plums. I upped the sugar and reduced the four like the other reviewers suggested. The cake came out awesome. -A little too sour when it first came out of the oven, but once it cooled the sourness mellowed. I would definitely make this again.
     
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Tweaks

  1. this cake was very good, i used strawberries instead of plums, because i prefer strawberries. it was delicious and my husband loved it, which is awesome because he is not a fan of cake at all. it also tasted similar to coffee cakes i have had in germany. thanks for the recipe
     
  2. Delicious! This was different from any other cake I have had. It was moist and tart. I am not a plum fan, but the baking makes the plums similar to peaches. I substituted applesauce for the butter in the bottom layer, and vanilla yogurt for the sour cream. This is great with a glass of milk to drink, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

This is a picture of me and my husband in Portugal, climbing up above the clouds with our bikes. Right now we are travelling around the world on our bicycles, so I only pop onto Zaar occasionally, when internet connections and time allow me to. If I don't reply to a message about one of my recipes, now you know why! Our trip may take several years so if it's urgent, it's probably better for you to post in the forums ;) Good food is really important to me -- I am happy to pay extra for food that I feel is produced in a sustainable and ethical way and always try to eat using seasonal produce. When we were in the UK we rarely shopped at supermarkets, trying instead to favour small producers, although we were very lucky in that we lived in London and there was lots of choice. We also were fortunate enough to have a weekly organic veg box delivered to our door, filled with so many lovely vegetables for very little money. It really opened my horizons in terms of the variety of vegetables I eat. If you're in the UK, check out Riverford for a box supplier as they're amazing! When I'm not eating I love to take pictures and travel with my husband. <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/World%20Tour/ZWT2.gif">
 
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