Cinnamon Streusel Plum Cake

The temperatures are dropping and fall is knocking on the door. I don't really want to let summer go but have to admit that I like fall a lot with the changing colors, the crisp mornings, great temperatures over the day and hardier meals at the dinner table.

So here is one of my first fall recipes and it includes plums and cinnamon. I have always enjoyed eating plums. My grandmother in Germany had a beautiful big plum tree in her yard and I have wonderful memories of lunches with fresh baked plum cake and potato soup.

This dessert is a much simpler version of a plum cake since it uses a streusel batter. It is very quick to assemble, not too sweet and the cinnamon complements the plums wonderfully.

My family loved this new version of plum cake and I will be baking it soon again.

Yields 12 servings.

Ingredients:

*  225 g butter, melted but not hot
*  750 g plums, pits removed and halved or quartered
*  500 flour
*  175 g sugar
*  1 package vanilla sugar (about 2 teaspoons)
*  2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
*  1 teaspoon backing powder
*  1/2 teaspoon salt
*  1 egg

Directions:

Preheat  oven to 375 F. Grease a 26 cm spring pan and set aside.

In a stand mixer attached with a  dough hook mix together the flour, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and egg and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Finish mixing the streusel with your hands.

Press 2/3 of the dough into your prepared baking dish, place the plums on top and cover with the rest of the streusel. Bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan before removing it carefully.

Serve with some fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on the side.

Tip: How to make your own vanilla sugar:

Ingredients:

* 1 vanilla bean, whole or scraped
* 2 cups granulated sugar

Directions:

If vanilla bean is whole, slice down side of bean with back of knife and scrape seeds into airtight container with the sugar. Bury bean in sugar and seal tightly with lid. Let sit for 1 to 2 weeks. Use as regular, granulated sugar.