Description
This traditional German Plum Cake, known as Zwetschgenkuchen, features a soft yeast dough topped with fresh Italian plums and buttery cinnamon streusel.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3+ pounds Italian plums, cut into quarters, pits removed
- 1 cup warm milk (start with 3/4 cup and add extra as needed)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dry active yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick butter (1/2 cup melted but not hot)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon quality pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
Instructions
- Dissolve the dry active yeast into 3/4 cup of warm milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine 4 cups of flour, sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Attach the dough hook and knead on the bread setting for 4-5 minutes, adding remaining milk as needed for a sticky dough.
- Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm area for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Butter a large jelly roll pan or German Backblech. Spread the sticky dough evenly across the pan.
- Arrange the quartered plums in neat rows over the dough. Optionally sprinkle sugar or cinnamon-sugar on top.
- Let the assembled cake rise for up to another hour in a warm spot.
- Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and room temperature butter in a bowl. Mix until clumpy.
- Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping across the surface of the plums and dough.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 30-35 minutes until the streusel is golden.
- Let the cake sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe Italian plums for best flavor.
- Ensure yeast is active before proceeding with the recipe.
- Do not over-sweeten to maintain the texture of the cake.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 391
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 71 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg