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Indulge in the extra moist, buttery Gluten-Free Plum & Almond Crumble Snacking Cake—it’s irresistibly delicious yet surprisingly light. The tart plums, lightly sweetened with coconut sugar and a hint of cinnamon, perfectly complement the nutty almond crumble, making this the ultimate gluten-free snacking cake of the season.
Versatile Plum & Almond Crumble Dessert for Any Time
This gluten-free snacking cake is made with fresh plums, almond flour, and a handful of simple ingredients. It’s perfect for breakfast, an afternoon pick-me-up, or as a delightful after-dinner dessert.
Choosing the Perfect Plum for Your Crumble Cake
Any Variety Works: You can’t go wrong with any type of plum for your crumble cake. Use whatever variety you have on hand!
Recommended Variety: If you’re looking for a specific suggestion, try Moyer Plums. They have purple skin and juicy yellow-orange flesh, making them sweet and ideal for baking.
Are Plums a Superfood?
Nutrient-Rich: Plums are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that benefit your health.
Good Source of Fiber: Helps keep you regular and promotes a healthy gut.
Vitamins and Minerals: High in vitamins C and K, potassium, and other essential minerals.
Contains Polyphenols: These plant compounds may protect against chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
In summary, plums are super healthy! Enjoy a Plum & Almond Crumble Snacking Cake—it’s both delicious and healthy-ish!
Key Tips for Baking with Plums
Choosing the Right Plum for Baking
You can use any plum you prefer, but we recommend:
Moyer Plums
Italian Prune Plums
Japanese Varieties: Shiro or Santa Rosa
Preparing Plums for Baking
Wash the Plums: Rinse to remove any pesticides.
Soak in a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda to 2 cups water for 15 minutes.
Alternatively, soak in a mix of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water for 20 minutes.
Rinse: Thoroughly rinse with water.
Slice and Pit: Remove the pits and slice as needed.
Using Frozen Plums: Yes, you can use frozen plums! Just thaw them before baking. Frozen fruit is a convenient option for those times when fresh plums aren’t available
Adapting Your Recipe with Seasonal Fruits
While fresh plums are in season from July through October, it’s always fun to experiment with other fruits. Just remember to adjust the sugar based on the sweetness of the fruit you choose.
Tart Fruits: If you’re using berries, which tend to be tart, add a bit more sweetener.
Sweet Fruits: For sweeter options like peaches, consider reducing the sugar slightly.
Ultimately, it’s all about your personal taste preferences!
Making a Plant-Based Plum and Almond Crumble Snacking Cake
If you want to make the Plum and Almond Crumble Snacking Cake plant-based, here are a few simple substitutions:
Butter Replacement: Use vegan margarine, such as Earth Balance, or substitute with coconut oil.
Plant-Based Milk: Opt for oat, rice, almond, or coconut milk instead of dairy.
Check Flour Blend: Ensure your gluten-free flour blend is dairy-free, as some blends may contain milk.
With these substitutions, your cake will be completely plant-based and just as delicious!
Gluten-Free Alternatives for Crumble Topping
For a gluten-free option for your crumble topping, replace the oats with either a gluten-free flour blend or buckwheat flour. For this recipe, you’ll need to use 1/4 cup of your chosen alternative.
Benefits of Almond Flour
Nutrient-Rich: Almond flour is a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet, offering more protein and healthy fats.
Gluten-Free: This flour is naturally gluten-free, making it suitable for various diets, including Paleo and low-carb.
Vitamins and Minerals: Almond flour is a good source of:
Vitamin E
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Copper
Heart Health: High in monounsaturated fats, almond flour may help promote heart health by:
Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
Increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels
Blood Sugar Control: Studies suggest that foods made with almond flour can help manage blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for weight loss and diabetes management.
Some of our favorite gluten-free sweet treats that include almonds are:
Snacking Cake vs. Coffee Cake: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to cake, the two main types are snacking cake and coffee cake. Both are perfect for a quick snack or dessert, but they have distinct differences:
Snacking Cake: Typically denser and moister, often featuring a fruit or nut filling. The Plum and Almond Crumble Snacking Cake is a delicious example.
Coffee Cake: Generally lighter and fluffier, topped with streusel.
Which one should you choose? It depends on your preference, but we recommend snacking cake—especially this gluten-free Plum & Almond Crumble Cake.
With the sweetness of the plums perfectly balanced by the almond crumble topping, it’s hard to resist. We’re sure you’ll be going back for seconds (or thirds)! Enjoy!
Preheat the oven to 375 F and line an 8 x 12-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2.
In a large bowl, combine flours, (xanthan gum if adding), baking powder and salt.
3.
In a separate bowl using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar, scraping sides as needed, add eggs and mix to combine. Add milk and vanilla and mix. It's ok if the butter separates.
4.
Add wet mixture to dry ingredients, and using a spatula, mix to combine
5.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and evenly top with plums. You should have three rows of plum slices. *see photo on the blog
6.
Mix two tablespoons of sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over the plums
7.
ALMOND CRUMBLE
8.
In a small bowl, combine almond flour, oats, sugar and salt. Grate in the cold butter, and using a fork, mix to combine.
9.
Add ice water and mix with a fork. Squeeze some of the mixture in your hands forming clusters, and scatter over the plums. Continue until you use up all the crumble mixture
10.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes. The crumble should be golden brown. Cool in the pan before slicing.
Nutrition Info
Nutritional Value Per Serving (1/15 of Cake) | Calories: 229 | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 16g | Carbohydrates: 27.2g | Sugar: Approx. 12g (from coconut sugar and plums) | Note: This calculation is approximate and can vary based on specific brands and variations in ingredient quantities.
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Kristina
Alene, yes, they will work well in this recipe.
Alene
I have I.B.S and can't eat any stone fruit, such as plums which I love. Do you think strawberries would work? Thank you.
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