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Traditional German Plum Cake

This delightful Traditional German Plum Cake features juicy Italian plums on a soft dough topped with buttery streusel, making it a satisfying yet lighter dessert option.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: German
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 1 cup 1 cup (240ml) warm milk (110°F/45°C) Warm, not hot, to activate the yeast.
  • 2 ¼ tsp 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast Ensure it's fresh for best results.
  • ¼ cup ¼ cup white granulated sugar (or adjust to taste) Initial quantity; adjust as needed.
  • 3 ½ cups 3 ½ cups (420g) all-purpose flour Sift before measuring for accuracy.
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp 4 tbsp melted butter Adds richness to the dough.
  • 1 large 1 large egg At room temperature for better incorporation.
Topping Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs 1.5 lbs (700g) Italian plums, pitted and quartered Can replace with other seasonal fruits.
  • ½ cup ½ cup (100g) sugar For sprinkling on top.
  • ½ cup ½ cup (115g) flour For the streusel topping.
  • 4 tbsp 4 tbsp (60g) cold butter Cut into pieces for streusel.

Method
 

Dough Preparation
  1. Combine warm milk, yeast, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, remaining sugar, and the egg. Knead until smooth.
  3. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl for 1 hour until it has doubled in size.
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Slice the plums while preparing the streusel. To make the streusel, mix together the sugar, flour, and cold butter until crumbly.
  3. Once the dough has risen, spread it on a baking sheet (13 x 18 inches). Top with quartered plums and sprinkle the streusel over everything.
  4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake is golden brown.

Notes

Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or low-calorie vanilla ice cream. For healthy meal balance, pair with fresh fruits or light yogurt.