Easy Yogurt Plum Cake

Tender, juicy yogurt plum cake using one bowl and just a few ingredients, easy to pull together and always a delight.

taking a slice from a round fruit cake dusted with sugar.

This easy yogurt plum cake is my kind of cake: tender and delicate, bursting with flavor, full of juicy ripe fruit. And on top of that, super easy and quick to make. There are no fancy ingredients or kitchen gadgets; all you need is one bowl, an electric mixer, a sieve, and a springform pan—a delicious recipe with fresh plums for the whole family.

And if you like plum cakes, check out the German Plum Cake (Zwetschgenkuchen), Plum Bread, Turmeric Cake, or the Easy Puff Pastry Plum Tarts.

Best tips

Scale:

Use a digital kitchen scale when baking; it guarantees the best results. Baking is a science, and it needs to be precise. Measuring by volume can produce such different results, especially when it comes to flour and butter. And if you use those inaccurate amounts, you’re more likely to get inaccurate results.

Oven:

Preheat the oven before you start stirring the batter. The baking powder starts doing its job as soon as you add it to the mixture, and it will lose its power if it sits and waits for the oven to get hot.
The batter also needs to be baked at the precise temperature from the beginning, allowing it to rise and brown appropriately without getting too dark.

Eggs:

Before using them, bring the eggs to room temperature; one hour on the counter should do it. If you forgot to do that, fill a bowl with warm water (not hot) and let the eggs sit in the water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Why should the eggs have room temperature? They mix better with the batter and help the cake rise more quickly.

Recipe ingredients

listed ingredients for plum cake on the table.

What kind of plums do you need?

You can use a variety of plums, either regular round juicy ones (red, yellow, or black plums) or, when in season, Italian plums.

Yogurt:

Creamy Greek yogurt, either full-fat or with 1.8 to 3.5 % fat.
I would not use fat-free yogurt.

Oil:

I love baking with oil, it makes the cakes (or muffins) moist and delicious, and it helps keep the leftovers moist for several days. Check out these Apple Muffins with Oil; they are amazing!
I use neutral-tasting oil like canola.
If using sunflower oil, make sure that it is neutral-tasting, I like sunflower oil in salads, but it can be overpowering in a cake.
Don’t use olive oil; it has too much flavor for this yogurt cake.

Other ingredients: plain flour, a pinch of salt, baking powder, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, icing sugar.

a slice of cake with pieces of plum showing.

Recipe steps

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/ 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a springform all over, but line only the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
Plums: Wash and dry them. Depending on the sort you use, halve or quarter them. Large plums should be quartered, while Italian plums (which are much smaller) should be halved. Set them aside (1).

Place wet ingredients (eggs, sugar, oil) in a large bowl. Mix with the hand mixer for about 3 minutes until frothy. You can also use the stand mixer, of course. Stir in the yogurt and vanilla extract.
Sieve dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder) over the egg mixture and fold in shortly. You should not overmix the batter; that will weaken the protein structure and create a dense cake.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan (2).
Arrange the juicy plums on top of the cake and press them gently into the batter (not too much, they should not be covered with batter) (3).

collage of two pictures of batter and then batter with plums in a springform.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, covering the pan loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes if it threatens to get too dark (this depends on your oven).
Check with a toothpick. Insert it in the middle of the cake, between the plums and not through a plum. It should come out clean (4).

overhead view of baked fruit cake in a springform.

Rest the plum cake with yogurt for about 15 minutes in the tin. Remove and let cool on a wire rack.
Sprinkle with icing sugar just before serving.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use other fruit?

A big yes! You can use almost anything you like. I have already baked this easy plum yogurt cake with fresh or canned cherries, peaches and nectarines, and apples. I am convinced that it would also be delicious with other stone fruits or berries.

Can I use canned fruit or frozen berries?

Yes. If using canned, let it drain well and dry it with kitchen towels.
If using frozen berries, you don’t have to thaw them.

Why use yogurt in baking?

Baking with yogurt is a great thing! Its acidity encourages leavening and adds a lovely slight tartness to the baked goods.

Can I use flavored yogurt?

Yes, if you remember to reduce the sugar you need a little, flavored yogurt is pretty sweet. My favorite kind is vanilla yogurt.

Can I replace the yogurt?

You can use sour cream or crème Fraiche instead.

How to store?

In an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Freeze the leftover slices for 2-3 months. Wrap the pieces individually in cling film and place them in airtight containers. Defrost on the counter.

Serving suggestions

Serve the yogurt plum cake lukewarm or at room temperature. Sprinkle it lightly with icing sugar before serving.
It is delicious with freshly whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème Fraiche mixed with a bit of brown sugar.

removing a slice from a plum yogurt cake.

More delicious cakes with yogurt

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