Description
The New York Times Plum Torte is a moist and fragrant dessert featuring a buttery cake base topped with juicy halved plums, lemon juice, and a cinnamon sugar sprinkle. This simple yet elegant torte combines the tartness of fresh plums with a tender crumb, perfect for serving warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 6–12 plums, pitted and halved (depending on size)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the pan and oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously butter a 9-inch springform pan to prevent sticking.
- Make the batter: In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
- Assemble the torte: Evenly spread the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the halved plums cut-side down on top of the batter, pressing them gently into the mixture. Drizzle the juice of half a lemon over the plums. Combine the remaining tablespoon of sugar with the ground cinnamon and sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the fruit.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the torte turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Remove the torte from the oven and allow it to cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes. Serve warm, at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight and enjoy chilled.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm plums for best texture and flavor.
- Adjust the number of plums based on their size to cover the torte uniformly.
- The torte can be made a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the batter.
- Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an indulgent touch.
