Gingery Plum Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the plum sauce filling: Combine the plums, sugar, onions, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, chile flakes and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the plums are tender. Remove from the heat and let cool. Once cooled, transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight to firm up. (Makes 2 cups.)
• For the almond cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the flour and eggs on low speed until fluffy. Continuing on low speed, mix in the salt, baking powder, vegetable oil, milk and almond extract until combined. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out crumb-free, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• For the ginger buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and ginger on low speed until fully incorporated and smooth. Gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar until fully blended. Add the salt and milk, and mix on medium speed until the buttercream takes on a light and fluffy texture, about 5 minutes. (Makes 4 cups.)
• Spread the plum sauce on top of the first cake layer. Stack the second cake layer on top. Decorate with the ginger buttercream.

Steps:

• For the buttermilk shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Chill 2 large mixing bowls, a pastry cutter, the flour and cubed butter in the freezer for 15 minutes before assembling the shortcakes.
• Add the flour to one of the chilled mixing bowls. Working quickly, cut the butter into the flour using the chilled pastry cutter (or your fingers); the goal here is pea-size balls of butter. In batches, add the buttermilk until the dough is cohesive yet still moist. (You may not need all of it.) Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and lightly press into a 1-inch-thick round. Using a 4-inch biscuit cutter or the business end of a dry measuring cup, cut out 8 biscuits.
• Preheat a cast iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Swirl the oil in the bottom of the skillet and gently arrange the biscuits in the skillet, making sure they are all nestled up against each other tightly.
• Brush the tops with the melted butter and sprinkle with the sanding sugar. Bake until the tops are just slightly golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• For the plums and cherries: Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the plums, cherries, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, ginger and cinnamon. Cook, stirring very gently as the fruit releases its juice, until the fruit is slightly soft, a few minutes. Take off the heat and add the butter. Gently stir until melted.
• For the ginger cardamom whipped cream: In the other cold bowl, mix together the cream, granulated sugar, vanilla, cardamom and ginger. Beat to medium peaks.
• For assembly: Split a warm shortcake with a fork. Place the bottom on a plate or shallow bowl and spoon on some of the warm plum and cherry mixture. Dollop on some whipped cream and sprinkle with some candied walnuts. Top with the top of the shortcake. Spoon on some more of the warm plum and cherry mixture, dollop on more whipped cream and sprinkle with more candied walnuts. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 7 more.

Steps:

• Put the prunes along with 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until the fruit is very soft and starting to break down, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in molasses and baking soda, then set aside.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven, and heat to 350 degrees. Generously butter or spray, then flour a 12-cup, or 10-inch Bundt pan, and place it on a baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and brown sugar on medium-speed until very thick and pale. With the machine running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream down the side of the bowl, beating until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then set speed to low and add the molasses mixture. Beat until just incorporated, then scrape down the sides of the bowl again. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing only until all traces of flour disappear. Transfer batter to the prepared Bundt pan.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the domed part of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then carefully invert cake onto the rack, lift away the pan and cool completely to room temperature.
• Dust the cocoa powder over the cake, using a fine-mesh sieve or tea strainer, then transfer to a serving plate.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well., Transfer to a greased 9-in. square baking dish. Top with plums. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over plums., For topping, in a small bowl, combine flour and sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts if desired. Sprinkle over top., Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until topping is golden brown and plums are tender. Cool on a wire rack.