Celebrate the peak of plum season with this warmly spiced plum streusel cake with sweet and salty toffee glaze.
spiced plum streusel cake with toffee glaze

Plums and I are having a moment.

Apparently late summer is when they turn into the best versions of themselves and, coincidentally, so do I.

So I have been doing my best to keep them within arm’s reach at all times. Something tells me that doing so can only lead to good things.

Happy endings.

(Though preferably not of the sensual massage variety.)

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I swear at one point this summer, I had at least five different varieties on the counter at any given time.

There were sugar plums, pluots, prune plums, greengages and santa rosas, to name a few.

And all the.boy would do is walk around and say, “But WHAT ARE THESE?! And where are the NORMAL plums?!”

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Normalcy is relative, my dear. You’ll get used to them.

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Two of my favorite seasons are colliding at this moment, and though I’m starting to feel an inkling of desire to immerse myself in all things cinnamon-spiced, I’m also not quite ready to let go of all the good stuff that is in it’s most perfect form right now.

This cake is what happens when we meet halfway.

A little bit of warm autumnal spices with a good dose of summer on top.

And streusel. One must never forget the streusel.

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Spiced Plum Streusel Cake with Toffee Glaze
 
Plums start to be their best at this time of year - so why not celebrate them! This warmly spiced plum streusel cake with sweet and salty toffee glaze does just that.
Yield: 1 9-inch cake
Ingredients
For the streusel
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • 1½ tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the cake
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1½ tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 5 medium plums, pitted and sliced into eighths
For the toffee glaze
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp heavy cream
  • large pinch of kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
  2. For the streusel, in a medium bowl toss together the almonds, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and butter until all of the ingredients are moistened and well-combined. Set aside.
  3. For the cake, in a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until well-combined. Stir in the vanilla extract. Stir in half of the flour until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then mix in the buttermilk. Add in the remaining flour and mix until just combined.
  5. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the plum slices in an even layer on top and gently press them in. Sprinkle the streusel over the plums.
  6. Bake until the top is browned and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Let cool and then remove from the springform pan.
  7. To make the glaze, in a small skillet, melt together the butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, and salt. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer, cooking for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Stir in the vanilla. Spoon the glaze over the cake.
  8. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 slice

For more fruit-filled cakes, check out these:

Strawberry Rhubarb Dream Cake

Strawberry Rhubarb Dream Cake

strawberry vanilla bean buttermilk cake

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Buttermilk Cakecherry cornmeal upside down cake

Cherry Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake

From Around the Web:

Lemon Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream from Baker By Nature

Vanilla Bean Bourbon Nectarine Bundt Cake from Keep It Sweet

Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting from The Law Student’s Wife

Peaches and Cream Cheese Coffee Cake from A Kitchen Addiction

Blueberry Coconut Banana Bread from Bakers Royale

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52 Responses to Spiced Plum Streusel Cake with Toffee Glaze

  1. Kathryn says:

    I love the sound of this cake, the perfect combination of summer and fall and anything with a toffee glaze has me swooning.

  2. Love all the warm spices in this cake and that toffee glaze sounds ridiculously good!

  3. Never forget the streusel is right! An important life rule.
    This looks like the perfect cake for transitioning from summer to fall…some flavors of both seasons!

  4. Please, please send me a giant slice with extra glaze!

  5. Dixya says:

    This is a great way to collide two seasons.. Can’t believe it’s almost fall!!!

  6. I’ve already given in to the autumny ways of a PSL, but I think I can back track to summer just a little bit to devour a slice or 7 of this.

  7. haha, love the plum comparison AND this cake. That streusel is calling to me!

  8. Julia says:

    Oh the summer-fall collision <- seriously the BEST time of year! I love all the product that's in season plus the heat's making its way outty, thank the laaaaaaw!

    I want all the happy endings, plum cake and otherwise…. just sayin 😉

    Have a great weekend, love!

  9. Oh. My. Gosh. I will take an extra-large slice of this gorgeous cake with extra plums and extra-EXTRA of that luscious toffee glaze and streusel.
    This cake just screams “weekend” and “eat all of me NOW”. 😀 Pinned!

  10. I’m kind of okay with having a happy ending moment with plums. Don’t tell peaches though…I sound like I’m talking about strippers. For the record Plum Peaches would totally be my stripper name!

  11. That. Looks. Awesome.
    Love plum but never thought to combine it with toffee. Oh yeah!
    Pinning.
    Have a great holiday weekend.

  12. This cake looks delicious, the glaze really makes it a more indulgent breakfast 😀
    And plums are some of my absolute favourites!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  13. This cake looks fantastic. Also, I’m amazed at how you post every day, working full time and packing. What a woman!

  14. A fabulous spiced coffee cake, Joanne. That streusel topping and toffee glaze are heavenly.

  15. SallyBR says:

    Toffee glaze….. that, my friend, is cruel…..

    wow!

  16. look at you with all these fab recipes this week! love this cake! perfect marriage of summer + fall spices . . love it, yo!

  17. Friday perfection! I wanna bake with plums now! YUMMMM!

  18. Trisha says:

    My Friday just got better. ALLLL over that streusel and toffee sauce. Gorgeous!

  19. cheri says:

    Hi Joanne, I have plums on my counter right now and company coming for this week-end, I will be making these!!!! Happy week-end to you!

  20. Mary Frances says:

    “Where are the normal ones??” -> happens ALL the time at our house! Haha, yes, I relate 🙂
    That streusel tho … toffee just makes everything better! Gorgeous cake Joanne, I am digging how tall it is! Pinned!

  21. Love this cake! That toffee glaze looks amazing!

  22. Christine says:

    All I can say is YUM. This is an amazing treat and the streusel is the crowning touch! Had to laugh at the.boy’s. description of “normal plums”. Btw, Santa Rosa’s are the best and one is lucky if you can find them!

  23. This looks like a perfect addition to weekend brunch! Love that toffee glaze!

  24. Oh my Joanne, that toffee glaze just makes me wanna ask: what kind of sorcery is this!? Amazing!!

  25. This cake is AWESOME. That toffee glaze looks so good! I also love all the spices in here!!

  26. What a perfect way to celebrate the end of summer. I adore plums of all varieties 😉

  27. Plums are so delicious! I love all of them. Love this cake and that streusel topping looks so great!

  28. Eileen says:

    I really need to keep this in mind for next June, which is when all our plums are ripe. Or I could just go get some now, I guess! But it always seems silly to buy them after being buried in them for a full month. Oh well. 🙂

  29. Isadora says:

    Happy endings are the best, haha! I don’t think I’ve been eating near enough plums this summer and I think that this streusel will cure that problem for me! This looks delicious!

  30. I now cannot wait for plums to be in season. That glaze sounds scrummy 🙂

  31. Hotly Spiced says:

    It does seem quite a while since I saw plums in the shops. I love the look of your streusel – it’s so golden and caramelised xx

  32. Johanna GGG says:

    toffee glaze on a streusel sounds very decadent – as does buying 5 varieties of plums at once but I would be happy with both of these – and a slice of that cake too please

  33. My friend Heidi, who just happens to live down the street, has a huge plum tree. And she’s always asking if I want some…but I never know what to do with them! Problem solved. You’re so there for me.

  34. This is the perfect food to transition to autumn! It keeps summer in the picture, but also says – you know what, the next season may not be so bad.

  35. This cake sounds amazing! I have only bought plums once this year (can you believe it??) Glad you brought this into existence. Maybe I will go buy some plums after all.

  36. Kate says:

    I’m very into plums, and prunes!

  37. Susan says:

    Well, if looks could kill this cake has the looks! How scrumptious it looks. I am also not ready to start making apple cakes and autumn-leaf crusted pies so plums it is!

  38. Kelly says:

    Whoa lady, I’m loving this cake and all the warm spices in here – it’s the perfect transition to all the fall flavors coming our way. Dying for a slice of this right now – I mean look at that gorgeous streusel and that toffee glaze is just calling my name!

  39. Rivki Locker says:

    I’m in a plum craze now, too. I buy loads of them and think I’m going to bake something. But then my kids just eat ALL of them. No matter how many I buy. I’m thinking of hiding some under my bed and making this recipe. 🙂

  40. Normal is overrated!! I’m so with you and the varieties – I go crazy for them. This cake looks YUMalicious!

  41. Krista says:

    We are in the process of planting a HUGE plum orchard, Joanne, so I will eagerly look forward to making this cake when Autumn rolls around. 🙂

  42. Foodiewife says:

    After a hiatus of visiting blogs, I’m back. What a great way to start. This cake is awesome, and I love your description that this is a summer-fall dessert. I can imagine the aroma of this cake, coming out of the oven. I want!

  43. grace says:

    plum cake? glorious. but that streusel looks AMAZING, and the toffee glaze is just gilding the lily. 🙂

  44. elly says:

    I love plums. They may very well be my favorite fruit. I am going to lock myself in a closet with this cake until it’s gone, which should take about 10 minutes.

  45. Reeni says:

    I’m not quite ready to embrace fall either! But this plum cake deserves a giant hug! I am loving the toffee glaze. You’re spoiling me with the streuel top too.

  46. I am snapping up as much summer fruit as I can. It’s so fun to try all the different kinds of plums. I also made plum cake recently buy it did not have that fabulous toffee. Need more plums to make this cake!

  47. Courtney says:

    Clara is obsessed with plums (and pluots) right now, so we keep plenty in our house for snacks. I feel like I shouldn’t let her know how delicious they’d be in a dessert because, you know, she’s 2.5 and has plenty of time to figure that out later. So I guess I’ll make this for Eric and I because I can’t stop thinking about it and have never eaten plums any way but straight out of the refrigerator.

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