While plums can be found in stores throughout the year, in celebration of plum season I want to share a traditional German plum cake with you. Depending on which region of Germany you’re in, it’s called Zwetschgenkuchen, Zwetschgendatschi, Quetschekuche or Pflaumenkuchen. I know, they’re all tongue-twisters :)
Variations exist throughout Germany where some versions are made with a shortcrust pastry versus a yeast dough, some have streusel and some do not, some are round and some are rectangular. But they all celebrate the plump, juicy, sweet European plum, also known as Italian plums.
Augsburg, a city in Bavaria northwest of Munich and one of the oldest cities in Germany, claims to have invented the original German plum cake, which they call Zwetschgendatschi. It’s the city’s signature dish. While variations exist even within Augsburg, the original version is made with shortcrust pastry and without any streusel.
The version we’re making today is my personal favorite and is typical of the area I’m from of Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg. It’s made with yeast dough and sprinkled with streusel and it can be found throughout Germany.
Zwetschgenkuchen typically calls for Italian plums (aka, European plums) and they are the variety most ideal for cooking not only because of their texture but also because their flavor becomes more complex through cooking. Italian plum season is short, usually from September through early October.
This type of Zwetschgenkuchen, as with the Augsburger style plum cake, is typically made on a Backblech (a baking sheet) versus in a springform, though many round versions exist as well.
We are fortunate to have several fruit trees on our property, including three Italian plum trees. It’s amazing how much fruit one plum tree can produce, you don’t realize how much until you start picking!
Aren’t those plump purple globes simply gorgeous?
I set a lofty goal of not letting any of the plums go to waste (very lofty, but I’m determined) and in the last two weeks I’ve been busy at work processing plums in every way I’ve been able to think of. Our family is big into long-term food storage so I’ve also been doing a lot of canning. I’ve been canning plums halves, making plum butter, plum preserves, plum sauce, Chinese plum sauce, making homemade prunes (dehydrating) and freezing them. Whew! Next up I’m making plum leather.
Can you think of any other ways to put bulk quantity plums to use? I’d love to hear them!
I’ve turned it into a family effort and our 4 and 6 year old kids have been helping me cut and de-seed the plums. So far we’ve processed over 150 pounds and there’s still a lot more to come!
So if you’re ever in the neighborhood and need some plum products, you know where to come!
This is the second batch of Zwetschgenkuchen I’ve made in the past two weeks and with as many plums as we still have left, I have a feeling it won’t be the last. Over 150 pounds down and probably double that left to go, really I should just set up a plum products business ;)
Fruit- and yeast-based cakes are a German hallmark and this Zwetschgenkuchen is a perfect example. It’s not overly sweet, has a touch of tartness to it, a small hint of cinnamon, and that luscious yeast dough.
This cake holds up well the next day or two and is even more flavorful as the juices from the plums penetrate the dough.
Let’s get started!
Dissolve the yeast into the warm milk and let is sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy. (The pic below is before the frothy stage)
Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and pour in the yeast mixture, melted warm (not hot) butter, eggs and vanilla extract. Give it an initial stir to combine the ingredients and then attach a dough hook and knead it on the bread setting (“2”) for 4-5 minutes.
The dough will be sticky but should hold together fairly well. It will not be firm enough to knead into a ball, think of it more as a thick batter.
Cover it loosely with plastic wrap and set it in a warm, draft free place to rise for an hour or until about doubled in size.
Generously butter a large jelly roll pan (at least 18 inches in length and 1 inch sides but even then the crust will be thicker than with the Backblech – see below) or, like I’m using and as pictured below, a German Backblech.
Backblechs are adjustable baking pans that are very common in Germany. They’re fantastic because you can adjust them by sliding them in and out to any length you want clear down to a smaller square. They’re really versatile. The one I have I brought with me from Germany. Virtually every sheet type of German cake calls for using a Backblech.
Here’s a similar if not the same Backbech on Amazon and it’s made in Germany.
Generously butter your Backblech or sheet pan and place the risen dough on it.
Use your hands to spread the dough out across the full length of the pan, pressing it up against the sides. It’s yeast dough so it will resist, but just keep pushing it back into position the best you can. Once you put the plums on it, those will help keep it in place.
Time for the plums!
The riper the plums the sweeter the cake will be. However, if they’re overly ripe – meaning mushy – they’ll be even mushier on the finished baked product.
Cut the plums in half and remove the pits. Then slice the plums in half again, slicing each plum into quarters.
Lay the plums close together in rows over the whole length of the dough on the sheet pan.
If you want your cake a bit sweeter you can sprinkle it *lightly* with sugar or cinnamon-sugar if you prefer more cinnamon. I emphasize “lightly” because the more sugar you add the more watery the cake will be as the sugar liquifies during baking and your streusel will also “melt” in contact with it.
Set the pan in a warm place and let it rise for up to another hour.
Next it’s time to make the streusel. Place all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and use your fingers to bring it all together. Work with the mixture until it’s thoroughly combined and forms a rough sand and clumpy texture.
Sprinkle the streusel over the top of the cake.
Bake the cake on the middle rack of the oven preheated to 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden.
Let the cake sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing to let some of the liquid set.
Slice the cake into squares.
A tool that I use that’s really handy and works like a charm for sheet cakes and many other things is the OXO Multi-Purpose Scraper & Chopper. It glides right through without scratching up your pan.
Serve and enjoy!
Guten appetit!
Authentic Zwetschgenkuchen (German Plum Cake)
Ingredients
- 3 + pounds Italian plums ,cut into quarters, pits removed
- 1 cup warm milk , *start with 3/4 and add extra to the dough as needed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dry active yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick butter (1/2 cup melted but not hot)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon quality pure vanilla extract
- For the Streusel:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter ,at room temperature
Instructions
- Dissolve the yeast into the 3/4 cup warm milk and let is sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and pour in the yeast mixture, melted warm (not hot) butter, eggs and vanilla extract. Give it an initial stir to combine the ingredients and then attach a dough hook and knead it on the bread setting ("2") for 4-5 minutes, adding the remaining 1/4 cup milk as necessary. (The dough will be sticky but should hold together fairly well. It will not be firm enough to knead into a ball, think of it more as a thick batter.) Cover it loosely with plastic wrap and set it in a warm, draft free place to rise for an hour or until about doubled in size.
- Generously butter a German Backblech extended to full length or a large jelly roll pan (at least 18 inches in length and 1 inch sides but even then the crust will be thicker than with the Backblech).
- Use your hands to spread the dough out across the full length of the pan, pressing it up against the sides. (It's yeast dough so it will resist, but just keep pushing it back into position the best you can. Once you put the plums on it, those will help keep it in place.) Lay the plums close together in rows over the whole length of the dough on the sheet pan. (If you want your cake a bit sweeter you can sprinkle it *lightly* with sugar or cinnamon-sugar if you prefer more cinnamon. I emphasize "lightly" because the more sugar you add the more watery the cake will be as the sugar liquifies during baking and your streusel will also "melt" in contact with it.)
- Set the pan in a warm place and let it rise for up to another hour.
- To make the streusel: Place all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and use your fingers to bring it all together. Work with the mixture until it's thoroughly combined and forms a rough sand and clumpy texture. Sprinkle the streusel over the top of the cake.
- Bake the cake on the middle rack of the oven preheated to 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden.
- Let the cake sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing to let some of the liquid set. Slice the cake into squares and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Anonymous says
Thank you so much , takes me back ❤️Have 2 sheets ready to bake
luisa says
Hi Julie, I live in Dublin, Ireland and I am used to metric measures unfortunately.I have tried to click on the Metric button on yr recipe but it’s missing bits and pieces , see how much milk etc. would you please post the ingredients list in grams and liters? I tried the conversion myself other times but cups of liquid are different from cups of dry ingredients and depending on the type of liquid and solid ingredient u use (i.e. butter rather than flour)and it turned out a mess.I really love your recipe.If I was around, I’d come help with collecting your beautiful plums, they look like jewels!thank you for your help.luisa
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Luisa, I’ve added those conversions and they should all be showing now when you click on the “Metric” button. For the milk it’s 237ml but start with more like 177ml and add more as needed. Happy baking!
Maria says
Hi Kimberly! Thank you soooo much for this fantastic recipe! And, all the others you share. Iam from Bad Reichenhall,Bavaria. My Mama would make this every fall, and we would patiently wait for it to come out of the oven. Your recipe sounds like the one Mama used to make. Well I have 2 pans waiting to rise and go into the oven. Followed the recipe to a “T”, but I added alittle lemon zest and juice mixed in with the sliced plums (couldn’t help myself; just love lemon). Looks perfect; 1/2 an hour more for the final rise, then into the oven they go. Thank you again. 🤗😀
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, Maria! Eating a slice of this cake is so nostalgic for me and takes me right back home – at least in my heart :)
Julie says
I love this recipe. Thank you so much!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you so much, Julie, I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Trudy Maynard says
Hello Kim,
I’m German, living in Canada. Have been baking Zwetschgenkuchen for over 50 years, and love the recipe of your yeast dough best. It’s richer and sweeter with less flour than the original recipe my Oma used.
Could you please provide the measurements of your baking pan. The length is 18 inches, but what is the with?
Thank You!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you so much, Trudy! Mine is nearly 15 inches wide. But you can make the cake thicker or thinner depending on your personal preferences.
Paneli says
Like this recepie. Perfect for sunday cake.
Gwenyth says
Hi Kimberly;
I have not made this recipe yet but was on the hunt for it as I ate it as a teen when my sister-in-law’s Oma used to made it. OH MY, delicious. I have about 10Lbs of plums. NOT quite the scale you have, thankfully. Question for this recipe, would the dough and fruit hold up to freezing after it was baked? I realize everything is better fresh but would like to use the plums before they are too ripe.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Gwenyth, I have not tried freezing this cake but I’ve had a couple of readers report that they’ve had success freezing it. Happy baking!
Judy Davey says
Yes this freezes very well my mom and oma made so much of it and froze it so it lasted longer, just let it thawon the counter. After freezing it has a littlemor juice bust taste is the same, a favorite in my household
Maria Caputo says
I will start by saying I only changed one thing about this recipe.
I made it gluten free.
Since my daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease, I have been doing my best to make gluten free versions of her favourite treats.
We have had many failures, but this was not one of them!
I used Cup 4 Cup all purpose flour blend and it came out great!
I had to cover it half way through the baking time; as gluten free flour tends to brown a bit faster, and I didn’t want it to become too dark.
I took a chance on this recipe because the photo looked exactly like the cake we used to buy from our local German Bakery, so glad I decided to try it because the taste is exactly the same!
I will be making this every year during plum season.
Thank you for this amazing recipe!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s wonderful, Maria, I’m so glad you were able to successfully convert this to GF and that it was a hit – thanks so much for the feedback!
Doris says
Had a recipe for open plum cake that did not call for yeast and misplaced it. Any suggestions?
Laura says
Wondering if I can use small yellow plums in this recipe?
Alaska Maid says
This is an amazing treat. My mom used to make this when we were kids. My hubby & I prepared it together. It is delicious. Just like mom made. I also enjoyed learning the history. Thank you for sharing.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Alaska Maid, I’m so glad you you enjoyed it!
Geta says
WOW, i just baked this, it is absolutely amazing recipe, I only reduce sugar by 1/4 cup personal preference, I follow the recipe exactly and it came out perfectly. One of the best recipes , thanks for sharing
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad, Geta, thank you very much!
Barbara Miralles says
Hi Julie,
I am looking for a recipe made by a bakery in town when we were kids. It was a bread recipe, light, fluffy, and buttery. It was made in a jelly roll pan, raised and then topped by a slightly sweet streusel. The dough itself was twisted in the pan and all twists butted up to each other and was maybe about 2.5 inches high. To eat this warm in the morning was such a delicious treat. The bakery is long gone unfortunately. Any idea what recipe this may have been? Thanks.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Barbara, do an online search for “Streusel Hefezopf” and look at the images. Does that look anything like what you’re describing?
dayle says
Thank you for posting this! My German Gram came from a family of professional bakers. Lucky for us, she lived with us. She was an early riser and baked very early in the day. Countless times we would wake up to the smell of something delicious in the oven. Plum cake was my favorite. In the summer when peaches were at their best, she would make a peach version. Plum cake (which is what we called it) is still my favorite.
For a cheaters version, a box of hot roll mix can be used for the base. Not as good as the original, but if you’re feeling lazy, it works well.
Karen Law says
Hello! I would like to try to make this for the holidays, but I missed plum season. Would plum jam work as a substitute?
Thanks
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Karen, with just a layer of jam the cake will be quite dry, but from a flavor standpoint it would taste good.