Plum-perfect chocolate cake: The ultimate autumn bake
There's no need to persuade anyone that chocolate and plums make a delightful combination. Pralines with this flavour have been incredibly popular for years. I decided to recreate this combo in a cake, and it turned out even better than expected.
The season for cakes with fresh fruits is beginning, and I recently discovered the last bag of plums in the freezer. I decided to use them up promptly and, of course, opted for a sweet bake. Frozen fruits work wonderfully in these.
Why are plums ideal for baking?
What can be done with plums at this time of year when the competition from seasonal fruits is quite strong? I went with the classic praline combination—plums in a chocolate cake. Sweet chocolate and aromatic fruits form a duo that never fails.
Moreover, plums, even when frozen, are perfect for baking. They don't fall apart or sink into the cake; instead, they remain on top, creating an intricate purple pattern. Just remember to place them cut side up to prevent the juice from leaking into the cake. This way, the fruits retain their juice and remain soft.
How to enrich the flavour of chocolate cake?
In autumn, I mainly use plums for crumbly or yeast cakes. This time, I tried something different, inspired by classic pralines. I wanted the plums to nestle in a velvety chocolate mass, so I chose to make a brownie.
This American cake, in its traditional form, is free of additives. However, there's nothing to stop you from enhancing its flavour with nuts or fruits. It has a moist consistency and is intensely chocolaty. I will definitely revisit this recipe in the autumn with fresh fruits.
Chocolate cake with plums
Ingredients:
- 250 g of chocolate (dark or a mix of dark and milk),
- 200 g of butter,
- 4 eggs,
- 150 g of sugar,
- 200 g of wheat flour,
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa,
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder,
- a pinch of salt,
- 250 g of plums (frozen or fresh),
- cinnamon, ginger, cardamom to taste (optional).
Method of preparation:
- Melt the butter and then add the broken chocolate pieces. Mix thoroughly so the chocolate melts and combines with the butter. Set aside to cool.
- Beat the eggs with sugar for a few minutes until a fluffy mixture forms. Then add the melted chocolate with butter and mix.
- Transfer the batter into a springform tin lined with baking paper. Arrange the cut plums on top and sprinkle with spices.
- Bake the cake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (about 180 degrees Celsius) for approximately 35-40 minutes.
