Vanilla Plum Sheet Cake
Deliciously fresh, fruity, and full of rich, aromatic vanilla, this Vanilla Plum Sheet Cake is the new stir-together cake of the summer! And, seeing as summer is peak plum season, the marriage of fresh, juicy plums and a simple one-layer cake seemed too perfect to pass up. The cake is simple yet satisfying, with bright notes of citrusy orange and sweetly scented Rodelle Vanilla Paste. Topped with delicately tart plum slices, toasted, nutty almonds, and a sprinkling of turbinado sugar, this cake is perfect for afternoon snacking and summertime celebrations alike.
Produced from the highest-quality Bourbon vanilla beans, Rodelle’s attention to detail and commitment to quality yields vanilla extracts and products with superior flavor and depth. Based in Colorado, Rodelle sustainably and responsibly sources vanilla directly from partners in Madagascar. There, the purest pods are hand-selected to create premium-quality vanilla products. From their Vanilla Paste, which offers the deep, rich taste of Madagascar vanilla beans, without the pod, to their signature Vanilla Extract made with hand selected vanilla beans, Rodelle vanilla is the secret to richer, more flavorful bakes.
- 1¾ cups (350 grams) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 large eggs (150 grams), room temperature
- 4 teaspoons (24 grams) Rodelle Vanilla Paste
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) packed orange zest
- 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) baking soda
- 1½ cups (360 grams) whole buttermilk, room temperature
- 2 cups (330 grams) ¼-inch-sliced fresh black plums (about 2½ plums)
- ½ cup (46 grams) lightly toasted sliced almonds
- Garnish: turbinado sugar
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting excess extend over sides of pan.
- In a large bowl, stir together granulated sugar and melted butter until combined. Add eggs, vanilla paste, and orange zest, stirring until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, stirring just until combined after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing top with a small offset spatula.
- Bake until cake is puffed but top is still wet and pale, about 18 minutes. Gently press plums into top of cake, and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Bake until edges are golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes more. Garnish warm cake with turbinado sugar, if desired. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes. Using excess parchment as handles, remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack.