This plum hazelnut yogurt cake made me reconsider gluten free baking. It's that amazing.
I love my gadgets, the cherry pitter, the melon scooper, the different microplane graters, garlic press and a few more that make some cooking steps easier, very in sync with these modern times when we don't have time but crave old-fashioned cakes, and have a million ideas and recipes and try to find something different to post, because really, there are no more cooking secrets. Everything is out there.
A few days ago I made a very nice discovery while making this cake. I used the apple corer to core plums. Do you all use it for that? Maybe it's even sold for plums, but the truth is that it was one little useless gadget for me.
Unless you want perfect half apples, which I rarely do, since I mostly use them chopped or sliced, the correct tool wasn't much helpful, it just didn't do the job quite right. The core was always bigger so once wasn't enough, and by the time I took the whole of the core out the half apple wasn't looking very even. Much easier with a big knife.
And then the plums are so darn hard to open in two without making a mess while trying to take the stone out. Now that problem is solved thanks to my plum corer, which will never go near an apple again. Happy with an apple-turned-plum corer. There are days when I really don't need much, do I?
The second great discovery is this cake. Let me start by telling you it's gluten free. You wouldn't really notice except, of course, for the taste that is a bit less sugary, somewhat coarser and wholesome tasting.
But it´s so moist and tender it's going straight into my favorite recipes.
The plums give it a slightly tangy tone, the olive oil is barely noticeably as a flavor and the combination of flours work.
Any stone fruit and nut flour that you like together work here. Peaches or cherries and almonds is one. The first time I baked it, it was without any fruit but with grapefruit zest instead of orange. It's a good alternative, though even less sweet.
If you want to try a gluten free cake this is amazing. Highly recommended.
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The amount of butter and sugar in the bottom is minimal. I like it that way, but you can double or triple it and make a richer cake.
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Ingredients
- 1 Tbs butter
- 2 Tbs light brown sugar
- 10 plums
- 2/3 cup natural yogurt
- ½ cup packed Light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3 eggs
- Zest of ½ orange
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup quinoa flour
- ½ cup brown rice flour
- ½ cup hazelnut flour
- 1 Tbs cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF /180ºC.
- Spray or butter sides of a 9-inch round or square pan with removable bottom.
- Melt butter and spread over bottom of pan. Sprinkle sugar over and arrange half plums over it.
- In a large bowl mix yogurt, brown sugar, olive oil and honey.
- Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each addition. Add orange zest and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients all at once and mix everything, without over beating.
- Pour into pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
- Cool in wire rack for 10 minutes and carefully unmold onto serving plate. Arrange any plums that might be stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- It keeps for 2 days at room tº.
adapted from La Tartine Gourmande
Your cake is just gorgeous! Love the vibrant color of the plums…
Kitchen Planner
Yum! I'm posting a plum based recipe this week...they are so delicious in desserts 🙂
Love the red bursts of color!
What a great tip! My corer isn't as nice as yours - I will have to get myself one! I also love the plum/hazelnut combo - was that the original combination? Happy New Year, Paula! It had been a really fun year reading your posts! ~ David
The original was cranberries (which are non-existent here) and almonds, and no honey. The rest is pretty much the same. Happy 2013!
Of all the kitchen gadgets I own, I don't have an apple corer which is why it takes me forever to make apple desserts which is why I rarely make them even though they're the Husband's favourite (I'm a bad, lazy wife). I'd be happy to core plums by hand if I could make this gorgeous, delicious cake. I love how the skins make those beautiful, rosy rings in the cake and I can only imagine how moist it is with the yogurt and olive oil. Happy New Year, Paula! I can't wait to follow along with you as you cook up even more delectable dishes 🙂
That is such a great idea, Paula! I will definitely remember for next time I need some perfect-looking plums like yours. This cake sounds amazing...and it is so darn pretty with the blush of those plums. Wishing you and yours a very happy new year 🙂
You're so inventive.. and I'm so appreciative you've shared this little technique with us:) How awesome is that?! I love the look of this cake as well and being gluten-free is a great bonus! xx
That cake is gorgeous! I am once again jealous of all the amazing stone fruit you have. Such a great idea to use an apple corer for the plums. I've never done it but will be sure to give it a try.
Your cake is just gorgeous! Love the vibrant color of the plums…yum!! Happy New Year to you Paula!!
The color of the plums is drawing me into your festive cake recipe! I am having sweet thoughts of summer stone fruit and wished I had made plum jam this year. A recipe to bookmark until the summer here in California returns!
Oh SUCH a beautiful cake with fantastic flavors! really lovely 🙂
Mary x
Ok not only does this look delicious but it's my favorite colors as well!! Happy new year!