Quick and Easy Plum Cake

If you are short on time and can’t make the traditional German Zwetschgendatschi with yeast dough, you may want to try this version. Instead of yeast, we are going to work with baking powder as the leavener. The base is a sort of cream cheese/sour cream type of dough relying on oil instead of butter. It comes together in minutes and can immediately be baked. No rising times, no waiting. I like my fruit cakes with lots and lots of crumbs on top. These have some silvered almonds included. However, you may omit the crumbs or streusel completely or make the simple version with flour, butter, and sugar. I provide the recipe for a half-sheet cake below. If you want to have a full sheet, simply double all amounts.

I am not sure if this type of dough is even known outside of Germany. I find it is a wonderful compromise as it has a similar texture to yeast dough, but requires so little work in comparison. “Quark-Öl-Teig”, yes, we love long German words, is how it is called here. You may want to give it a go. Try to imagine it similar to yeast dough. Often it is filled with fruits or other fillings, I love it.

Print Recipe

Super Easy and Quick Plum Cake

Serves: Half-sheet cake

Prep Time: 45min – Cooking Time: 40min – Total Time: 1hr 25min

This super easy and quick plum cake contains a simple and quick dough, a layer of plums, and almond crumbs.

Ingredients

• Filling (for a full baking sheet double all amounts)
• 800-900 grams of plums
• 
  
• Dough
• 250 grams of all-purpose flour
• 60 grams of regular sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 75 grams of buttermilk
• 75 grams of cream cheese or sour cream
• 50 grams of neutral oil
• 
  
• Cinnamon Crumbs
• 100 grams of flour
• 50 grams of regular sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 75 grams of butter
• 50 grams of sliced almonds

Instructions

1

You can see in this short video how I make it. This yields a half baking sheet, for a full baking sheet double the amounts. Wash the plums, cut in half or quarters if large and destone. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

2

For the dough mix all ingredients until you have a slightly sticky dough. Press into half baking sheet with your fingers, it will be thin.

3

Rub the ingredients for the crumbs in a large bowl. Now put the prepared plums on the dough and sprinkle with crumbs. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until golden and plums have released their juices. I froze some pieces I had put into a plastic box. Thaw in fridge overnight or simply at room temperature.

As a huge plum lover, you will find a lot of recipes on my blog. How about this blog post with 10 recipes with plums for further inspiration.