Plum Kuchen

Plums were on sale at the grocery store for just 88 cents/pound, so when I saw this recipe in a Cooking Light magazine, I just had to try it.   Overall, it was really quite good.  I loved the plum topping.  But two things went wrong with the cake that were totally my fault.  First, I substituted whole wheat flour which I think was a bad idea in a dessert recipe.  And secondly, I let it bake a little too long and the cake got a bit dry-- still edible and delicious though.  The plums were juicy enough to make up for it.

Plum Kuchen

Plum Kuchen, adapted from Cooking Light magazine
Makes 10 servings
256 calories/serving

Ingredients:
1&1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
7 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1&1/2 pounds plums, quartered and pitted (any variety;  I used black plums and cut into 8 slices each)
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring well with a whisk.  Cut in 4 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles course meal.

In a small bowl, combine milk, vanilla, and egg, stirring well with whisk.  Add milk mixture to flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Spoon batter into a 9" round metal cake pan coated with cooking spray.  Arrange plums in a circular pattern over batter.

In a medium bowl, combine remaining 2/3 cup sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, lemon rind, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and allspice.  Microwave remaining 3 tablespoons butter to melt and add to sugar mixture, stirring well.  Sprinkle plums evenly with sugar mixture.  Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes or until brown and bubbling.  Cool in pan for one hour on wire rack and cut into wedges to serve.  Works as breakfast or dessert.