This streusel packed plum coffee cake recipe combines juicy plums with the warming spices of cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper. Sour cream helps provide a tender, moist crumb to the cake, and an easy streusel recipe gets double duty as both filling and topping for extra crunch and brown sugar flavor. It boasts a full pound of diced plums!
My parents gave me a glut of Italian prune plums from the tree in their yard. It was already getting colder outside, and I was looking for something satisfyingly cozy that would warm my kitchen with the smell of spices. And for something to help me use up the plums overflowing the bowl on my counter.
A simple plum cake recipe seemed fitting, so I put together this coffee cake. I added cardamom and black pepper to enhance the floral nature of the plums. The spices also provide an extra layer of flavor to the classic cinnamon coffee cake. I minimally altered this streusel recipe from What's Gaby Cooking, reducing the salt and adding cardamom to echo the spices in the cake.
For another streusel recipe, try these cinnamon streusel muffins!
Ingredient notes
FOR THE STREUSEL
Unsalted butter - Melted butter makes it so easy to put this streusel topping recipe together. I like to use unsalted butter to ensure that I can control the total amount of salt in my recipe. If you choose to use salted butter, omit the additional salt.
Brown sugar - Brown sugar adds a nice caramel flavor.
All purpose flour - Flour binds the streusel together.
Salt, cinnamon and cardamom - Salt and cinnamon are traditional, and cardamom provides a nice warming, floral element that pairs well with the plums.
FOR THE PLUM COFFEE CAKE
Unsalted butter - Using unsalted butter allows you to control the total quantity of salt in the recipe. The butter should be cubed and at room temperature.
Ground cardamom, ground cinnamon and black pepper combine to form the warming flavors that hint at chai spice. If you have whole green cardamom pods, crush the black seeds in a mortar and pestle or put them through a spice blender. If possible, use freshly ground black pepper. It's more fragrant than pre-ground pepper from a container.
Sour cream - I use full fat sour cream in this recipe. It's possible to substitute full fat Greek yogurt, but it may impact the richness of the final bake.
Whole milk - Whole milk helps improve the texture and moisture content of the coffee cake crumb.
Italian plums - I have tested both Italian prune plums, which are also called Empress plums, and black plums in this recipe. You can substitute any type of plum.
If your plums are tart, after dicing (right before adding them to the top of the batter) toss them with a few teaspoons of sugar to taste. Don't toss with sugar too soon or they will begin to release too much juice.
I tested this recipe with both frozen and fresh plums with good success. If using frozen plums, simply dice the plums and place in a sieve in the sink to defrost while you make the remainder of the recipe.
Streusel - Rather than mixing up a separate filling recipe, I've chosen to use half of the streusel mixture as the filling. Easy! It adds a nice little ribbon of sweetness and brown sugar spice flavor through the cake.
FOR THE PLUM GLAZE
Italian plums - Just like in the cake, feel free to use any variety of plums. Fresh or frozen work here too. If frozen, defrost the plums completely before blending them.
Powdered sugar - Depending on the juiciness of your plums, you might need to adjust the amount of powdered sugar slightly to achieve a glaze consistency that pours well.
Cardamom - Cardamom is a fairly robust spice with a strong floral scent. If you find it overpowering, feel free to reduce the quantity to a pinch, or omit it completely.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. I tested this recipe using both frozen and fresh plums with good success. If using frozen plums, simply dice the plums and place in a sieve in the sink to defrost while you make the remainder of the recipe.
Love this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating. ★★★★★ Your feedback, suggestions, and adaptations are very helpful to other bakers!
📖 Recipe
Plum Coffee Cake
INGREDIENTS
STREUSEL TOPPING (AND FILLING)
- 168 grams (12 Tablespoons, 6 ounces, 1½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 165 grams (¾ cup + 1 Tablespoon) brown sugar
- 210 grams (1¾ cups) all purpose flour
- 2 grams (½ teaspoon) kosher salt , Diamond Crystal
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom, ground
PLUM COFFEE CAKE
- 84 grams (6 Tablespoons; 3 ounces) unsalted butter
- 50 grams (¼ cup) brown sugar
- 133 grams (⅔ cup) granulated sugar
- 4 grams (1 teaspoon) kosher salt , (I use Diamond Crystal)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 240 grams (2 cups) all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cardamom, ground
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 120 grams (½ cup) sour cream, full fat
- 125 mL (½ cup) whole milk
- 453 grams (2 cups packed; 1 pound) Italian plums, ripe, diced
- streusel recipe, from above
PLUM GLAZE
- 125 grams (½ cup chopped and packed, a bit over ¼ pound) Italian plums, ripe, pitted
- 300 grams (2½ cups) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon cardamom, ground
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ground
INSTRUCTIONS
STREUSEL TOPPING (AND FILLING)
- In a medium bowl, stir together all streusel ingredients. There should be no dry flour remaining. Set aside to cool and firm up slightly while making the cake.168 grams (12 Tablespoons, 6 ounces, 1½ sticks) unsalted butter, 165 grams (¾ cup + 1 Tablespoon) brown sugar, 210 grams (1¾ cups) all purpose flour, 2 grams (½ teaspoon) kosher salt , 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon cardamom
PLUM COFFEE CAKE
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit (177° Celsius, Gas mark 4) with a rack in the center of the oven.
- Prepare a 9" (23cm) springform pan by placing a circle of parchment paper in the base and greasing the sides.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. Set aside.240 grams (2 cups) all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon cardamom, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and the milk. Set aside.120 grams (½ cup) sour cream, 125 mL (½ cup) whole milk
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, approximately 4-5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well to incorporate each. Mix in vanilla extract.84 grams (6 Tablespoons; 3 ounces) unsalted butter, 50 grams (¼ cup) brown sugar, 133 grams (⅔ cup) granulated sugar, 4 grams (1 teaspoon) kosher salt , ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Scrape the sides of the bowl well and add half of the flour mixture. Mix at low speed until blended. Add sour cream mixture, and mix to combine. Add remaining flour and mix just until blended. Scrape the bowl with a spatula to ensure all flour has been incorporated.
- Pour half of the batter into the prepared springform pan and smooth to the edges with a mini offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Distribute half of the prepared streusel evenly on top of the batter, breaking it up with your fingers into a mixture of pea, blueberry, and sandy crumb sized amounts. Add the remaining batter and spread carefully over the streusel to cover it completely. Ensure the batter extends to the edges of the pan.
- Distribute the diced plums in an even layer on top of the cake batter. Add remainder of streusel to the top of the cake. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until golden brown, a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, and the top springs back lightly when touched.453 grams (2 cups packed; 1 pound) Italian plums
- Cool on a baking rack. Once cooled, run a knife around the border of the springform pan and then release the pan. Place onto a serving platter.
PLUM GLAZE
- Place all plum glaze ingredients into the bowl of a blender and process on low until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the blender and process on high until pureed. For a smooth glaze, pass through a strainer to remove leftover plum skins.125 grams (½ cup chopped and packed, a bit over ¼ pound) Italian plums, 300 grams (2½ cups) powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ⅛ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Drizzle glaze onto cooled plum coffee cake before slicing (it will harden to a firm glaze), or serve in a small pitcher alongside the cake to be poured onto individual slices. If the glaze is made in advance, it will crust over. Keep the surface covered with a piece of plastic wrap until serving, and stir before using.
julie fleetwood says
Kathleen,
I probably will not make this coffee cake but I want you to know that I thoroughly enjoy READING your narrative about preparation. I like your descriptions of the various ingredients and substitutes when needed. Clearly, a great deal of thought has gone into whatever you are making.
I also liked knowing about Luna and Rio and their school adventures. I am sure you know that I first met your mother when we were both teaching at Sunnyland School. What goes around comes around.
with admiration,
Julie (Fleetwood)
The Floured Table says
Hi Julie!
It's so fun to think of you reading my blog - I'm glad that you can follow along.
I'm also glad that you enjoy the detailed portions; they are indeed a fair amount of work, but I know they help provide useful info for those trying the recipe.
The girls are really enjoying being together at school for the first time - it's a special year!
Hugs,
Kathleen