Tender almond cake enriched with juicy plums and vanilla, ideal for warm, sweet home baking occasions.
# What You Need:
→ Fruit
01 - 5 ripe plums, pitted and sliced
02 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (for plums)
→ Cake Batter
03 - 1 1/4 cups (5.3 oz) all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup (3.5 oz) almond meal (finely ground almonds)
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 3/4 cup (6 oz) granulated sugar
08 - 1/2 cup (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 large eggs, at room temperature
10 - 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) whole milk, at room temperature
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
→ Topping
13 - 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
14 - 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a small bowl, toss the sliced plums with one tablespoon of sugar. Set aside to macerate.
03 - Whisk together flour, almond meal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
04 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately three minutes.
05 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
06 - Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, then pour in the milk. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
07 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Arrange sugared plum slices evenly over the batter and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
08 - Bake for 38 to 42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake surface is golden.
09 - Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
