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Sourdough Plum Cake

Updated: · Published: by Asmae @ Your Kitchen Lab · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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Sourdough Plum Cake

Need a new way to use up sourdough starter? This easy plum cake is soft, fluffy, and topped with juicy fruit that caramelizes as it bakes. It’s not overly sweet, which makes it just as good for breakfast with coffee/tea as it is for dessert with ice cream.

Even better, it’s flexible: no sourdough starter? Use Greek yogurt. No plums? Swap in apples, peaches, or apricots.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Soft and tender crumb: the sourdough starter (or yogurt) keeps the cake light and moist.

  • Perfect balance: not overly sweet, with just enough sugar to complement the fruit.

  • Flexible fruit options: works great with peaches, apples, apricots, or whatever’s in season.

Sourdough Plum Cake

Ingredients To Make Sourdough Plum Cake

  • Sourdough starter: you can substitute with Greek yogurt.

  • Plums: fresh and slightly tart, but feel free to try peaches, apples, or apricots.

  • Cream cheese or Greek yogurt: either works to create that creamy texture in the batter.

  • Buttermilk, kefir, or milk: all keep the cake moist.

Step-by-Step Overview

(Full recipe card below, this is just the big picture!)

  1. Make the batter: cream butter and sugar, add eggs, sourdough starter (or yogurt), cream cheese, and buttermilk. Mix in dry ingredients.

  2. Prepare the pan: coat the bottom with melted butter and brown sugar.

  3. Layer the plums: slice and arrange neatly in the pan.

  4. Bake: pour the batter over fruit and bake until golden and set.

  5. Flip and serve: invert to reveal caramelized plums on top.

Tips for Success

  • Use room temperature butter and eggs for best mixing.

  • Don’t overmix once you add the dry ingredients, a gentle stir keeps the crumb soft.

  • Check doneness around 40 minutes, but bake up to 45 minutes if needed.

Variations & Serving Ideas

  • Swap plums for peaches, apples, or apricots.

  • Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Storage

  • Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

  • Freeze slices individually and thaw before serving.

Sourdough Plum Cake

Sourdough Plum Cake

Soft, buttery cake with caramelized plums and a gentle tang from sourdough starter or yogurt.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings: 1 cake
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 115 g butter, softened ½ cup
  • 115 g sugar ½ cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 120 g sourdough starter (or sub Greek yogurt) ½ cup
  • 60 g buttermilk, kefir, or milk ¼ cup
  • 60 g cream cheese (or Greek yogurt) ¼ cup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 220 g all purpose flour 1¾ cups
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 5 plums sliced
  • 30 g melted butter (for pan) 2 tablespoon
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar for pan

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease or line a 20 cm (8 inch) round cake pan.
  2. In a mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add eggs, sourdough starter, buttermilk, cream cheese (or yogurt), vanilla and mix until smooth.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Pour melted butter into the prepared cake pan and swirl to coat the bottom. Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar.
  6. Arrange plum slices in a single layer over the sugar.
  7. Gently spread the cake batter over the fruit.
  8. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Allow to cool slightly before inverting onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.