Authentic German Plum Cake Recipe (Zwetschgenkuchen)
This traditional German plum cake (Zwetschgenkuchen) with buttery streusel is the perfect remedy for summer's end. My mom's authentic recipe!
Servings 12 slices
Calories 404kcal
Equipment
- 1 baking pan 33 x 46 cm / 13 x 18 inches) High Side Half-Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon instant yeast 1 packet, or ½ cube of fresh yeast
- 1 cups milk
- ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (Germany Type 405, UK Plain Flour, USA AP flour)
- ⅓ cup butter at room temperature
- 1 egg medium size
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- butter to grease the pan (optional)
For the Crumble Topping
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup butter
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 2 teaspoon vanilla sugar
For the fruit topping
- 2 lb Italian prune plums you can also use regular plums
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
- Heat the milk to a lukewarm temperature. Stir in the sugar and yeast and leave to rest for 10 minutes. The yeast should activate and you will be able to see bubbles appearing on the surface. If the bubbles do not appear, the milk might have been too hot and damaged the yeast.1 cups milk, ½ cups granulated sugar, 2 tsp instant yeast
- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour and salt. Pour over the yeast mixture and add the butter and egg. With a hand or stand mixer, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until you achieve a smooth, not too sticky dough.4 cups all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup butter, 1 tsp lemon zest , 1 egg
- Turn off the oven. Place the dough in a bowl, and cover it with a moist tea towel. Leave to rise for about an hour in the warmed-up oven. After an hour, the dough should have doubled in size.
Make the Streusel
- While your dough rises, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and stir in flour, sugar, cinnamon, and the vanilla extract or sugar until you get fine crumbs. Refrigiate until neededbutter to grease the pan , 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, ⅓ cup butter, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Wash and drain the plums. Make crosswise cuts at both ends, then slice along one cut to open and remove the stone.2 lb Italian prune plums
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/392°F top to bottom heat.
Assemble the Cake
- Knead the risen dough briefly on a floured surface, then roll out to fit your baking tray. Grease the tray or line with parchment paper. Press the dough into the pan.butter to grease the pan
- Arrange plum halves in overlapping rows on the dough. Sprinkle streusel on top.
- Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes.
- Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg
