TWD: Dimply Plum Cake

Yeah, yeah I know. I'm late. I have good reasons! I was on vacation this week and my birthday was on the 21st. Due to my excitement over both events, I forgot to type up and schedule my post for Tuesday. I had completed it, I promise! I'm just scatterbrained (having a broken toe didn't help!).

I actually made this twice. The first time I halved the recipe and kept the cardamom. I only used 3 of the plums from the HUGE tub I got a Sam's. There was no way I could have fit 4. Several plums were lost in the effort to get somewhat non butchered halves. Seriously. There should be a warning about how stinkin' hard it is to remove the pit from a plum and still have the halves remain intact! Thankfully, no fingers were harmed in the process.

For the first attempt, I used a larger pan than I probably should have so my cake was a tiny bit thinner than it should have been. I also stupidly put the plums in cut side down. It wasn't that bad but it was a bit mushier than I probably would have been if I had paid attention when I put them in. I also discovered that the sausagey taste that I was wondering about from the Daring Bakers Danish Braid was in fact due to the cardamom. Its not a bad taste really, just kind out of place in this cake for me.

For my second attempt, I halved it once again. I used more of a loaf pan this time. The cardamon was absent and I used more orange zest. I took it out of the oven when it was golden brown on top and the toothpick came out clean. You would assume it would be done right? Yeah...not really. After the fifteen minute rest, I unmolded it from the pan...and it proceeded to collapse into a dimply plum doughy mess. Uhhh...WTF??!!!! Well crap. So I scrapped it pack into a pan and in the oven.

20 minutes later I took it out one more time. It was still a squatty mess but at least it was done.

Despite the troubles with the second one, I actually preferred the taste and texture of this one. It had the cornbread like texture Dorie mentions. I also loved the cardamonless taste. The extra orange and absence of the cardamom definitely makes this one a make again.

Charlie was a little too tired to get very excited about this one. Oh don't get me wrong...he was interested in the food all right. Just not the get out of his comfy spot on the couch excited.

This weeks recipe was chosen by Michelle of Bake-en. Next weeks recipe is Creme Brulee (omg...yes!!!) that Mari of Mevrouw Cupcake has picked.

Check out the other TWD bakers for more delicious treats!