Monday, September 22, 2008

TWD: Dimply Plum (Peach) Cake

cakedimplypeach

This week's TWD was actually perfect, just in time for my mom's birthday! Like me, she isn't too into frostings unless of course it's whipped cream. I actually loved making this cake because of how satiny smooth the whipped butter, sugar, egg and oil mixture came together. It was so pretty I almost didn't want to add the flour. Instead of plums, I decided to use peaches since last time the pluots were a little sour for my liking. Before adding the peaches, I followed CI's advice to cook them in a pan first to release some of the juices and ensure that the fruit is properly cooked through. Even though I overbaked this by mistake, I enjoyed this version better than CI's flavourwise and texturally. The rustic plum cake was more cookie like whereas this was more coffee cake like.

cakedimplypeach (2)

I couldn't believe the difference orange zest can make in a baked good and I think I'm going to start adding more of it whenever I bake. This was so delicious, I kind of wish I didn't halve the recipe. My mom and I could have eaten the entire loaf ourselves, but it was late so I put it away before we could devour the entire thing. Plus, I always like to leave some for the next day because I'm curious to see how the texture changes. Sorry for the weird colour of my cake, but we just couldn't wait until the morning to slice into it. Stupid yellow light bulbs and no natural lighting!

Thanks to Michelle of Bake-En for choosing this recipe, which can be found on her blog and in Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From my Home to Yours. Don't forget to checkout the TWD Blogroll!

31 comments:

  1. Steph: If my cake turns out well, I'll save some for you. In the meantime, I'd like to pass along an award that our TWD friend Nancy gave to me. Please come by to see!

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  2. Our pictures look identical! Yum! I gave you a blog award so go check it out! Great job on this cake- wasn't it delicious?!

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  3. that's beautiful with peaches! i think slices work better than halves no matter what type of fruit is used. the photos are beautiful even in night lighting!

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  4. Steph-The cake looks wonderful. I hope your Mom had a happy birthday. I used cherries with lime zest and I was really at the way the zest helped to elevate the flavor. The pictures look good to me!!

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  5. Such a FABULOUS dessert for your Mom's birthday!!! And hooray for yet another tantalizing edition of TWD :0)

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  6. Steph, totally love the cake. The peaches look perfect, and I like the idea of precooking them kinda.

    Hope school is going well, and how about that physics class? You can teach them the physics of making cakes :)

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  7. Your cake looks delicious!! I used yellow plums instead of peaches and lemon zest instead of orange. It's jummy!

    I hope your mom had a nice birthday!

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  8. This has been doing it's rounds, and it's one I can't wait to try! Steph, your photos are looking better with every post! I hate my nightime yellow lights too, but it didn't do any damage to your photos.

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  9. That picture makes me wish I had made mine with peaches - delicious! I'm glad it was such a hit for you and your mom.

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  10. Beautiful cake! Thanks for the orange zest tip...I'm going to have to try that.

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  11. You are so sweet to make this cake for your Mom and she's so lucky to have a talented and thoughtful daughter. I pray that my girls turn out like you!

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  12. What a gorgeous cake! I can't wait to try it with peaches now!!

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  13. I absolutely loved the cake part of this and am glad to see someone tried something besides plums. I am not a fan of plums so I didn't really enjoy that aspect. Hubby suggested peaches and I should have followed that advice. Gorgeous pic you have there!

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  14. yummy yummy! looks great! I love the photos too!

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  15. Looks great!! I really want to try this with peaches next time.

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  16. I'd sure love this for my birthday! How cool that you could cook it for your mom. The peaches look so good on your cake (and your pictures are fine, btw. although you probably could adjust your camera for the incandescent light). Great job!
    Nancy

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  17. Peach is a great alternative for this cake. I have a basket of them in need of attention, I think I will make this again tomorrow with peaches. Thanks!

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  18. Ooh, that looks lovely with peaches. I love your plum cake below also. Happy Birthday to your mom.

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  19. i love zest in baked goods, it def brings out the flavors! your cake looks so yummy. fab job. btw i am not a frosting lover either.

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  20. I have to be careful with orange zest, my children think it taste too "English", whatever that means. I should try the recipe with peaches, your cake looks appetizing

    Ulrike from Küchenlatein

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  21. Our cakes definitely don't look alike haha I want to try peaches next time with Dorie's suggestion of lemon and basil. I should take your suggestion of pre-cooking the fruit because the plums were sorta hard to cut with a fork.

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  22. Good idea with the peaches, I will definitely try a different type of fruit next time. I did love the cake part though and yours looks delicious.

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  23. I love how you made your cake, it looks gorgeous!

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  24. Orange zest is the best. Your cake looks delicious, love how you made it!

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  25. Well, I liked the peach better because it wasn't as sweet and because I like peaches better anyway. There was a whole debate about which were tastier peaches or nectarines(not in the cake) and I just like the peaches. I was also pleasantly surprised by how well the basil complemented the flavors. I love cardamom though, so if I would have done the plum versus the peach, I am not sure who would've come out on top!
    Sorry that was really long!

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  26. The yellow plums are really nice!!
    As for the camera: I'm looking for a point and shoot, not really a photographer.... Thanks for your suggestions!

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  27. Your pictures are gorgeous! You really make me wish I used peaches. I have had the same experience with orange zest recently -- who knew? Sounds like this was the perfect cake for your mom!

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  28. It looks wonderful! I agree that the zest makes everything taste better. Great job!

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  29. This looks terrific! So does the CI version. Thanks for sharing these!

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  30. Wow I really love your blog especially the cookies you make they re all amazing.

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  31. Thanks for the recipe comparison! Glad you liked this one!

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