Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

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4.97 from 33 votes

This delicious upside down plum cake is very easy to make with simple ingredients that you probably already have at home. The recipe is vegan (dairy-free, egg-free), gluten-free, oil-free, and much healthier than other recipes.

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (1)

Vegan Upside Down Plum Cake

How awesome are upside down cakes? I love them because they are fun to make, and they are quite healthy since they contain fruit. You can make them with kids and use your favorite fruit of choice.

I love this upside down plum cake because it is:

  1. Easy to make with simple ingredients.
  2. A great summer dessert which isn’t too heavy.
  3. Healthier than most other recipes.

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (2)Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (3)

How To Make The Best Upside Down Plum Cake?

  • Check the easy step-by-step photos below:
  • First, line the bottom of a cake pan or springform with parchment paper and preheat your oven.
  • Wash, deseed and slice the plums. Arrange them on the bottom of the springform/cake pan. Drizzle with a tablespoon of sugar and maple syrup.
  • Measure/weigh the dry ingredients and add them all to a big bowl. Stir with a whisk.
  • Mash the banana (or use applesauce) and combine it with the wet ingredients. You can also use a blender or food processor.
  • Whisk dry and wet ingredients together and pour the batter into the cake pan/springform.
  • Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes, then allow to cool and peel off the parchment paper.
  • Enjoy warm or cold!

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (4)Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (5)

Simple Ingredients

This cake contains only simple ingredients that you most likely already have at home. The main ingredients are ground oats (oat flour) and ground nuts. You can use any nuts of choice, for example, ground almonds, hazelnuts, etc.

Shredded unsweetened coconut can be used instead of ground nuts. Please don’t use coconut flour. It won’t work in this recipe!

Please don’t substitute any regular flour (except almond flour) for the ground nuts. Since the recipe is oil-free, there needs to be a source of fat.

To make the cake grain-free, you could experiment with buckwheat flour or sorghum flour (instead of oat flour). I haven’t tried it myself but it should work. If you give it a try, please report back in the comments.

Any plant-based milk can be used in this recipe. I prefer to use canned coconut milk, however, almond milk, cashew milk, etc. should work fine as well. The higher the fat content of the milk, the better the cake will taste.

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (6)

How To Serve?

You can serve the cake with dairy-free ice cream or whipped coconut cream. Another option would be to drizzle a vegan caramel sauce on top.

Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (7)

Versatile Upside Down Plum Cake

I love how versatile this upside-down cake is. You can use other fruits instead of plums. Some examples would be:

  • Pineapple, to make an upside down pineapple cake. Or what about:
  • Apple
  • Strawberry
  • Peach
  • Banana
  • Pear
  • Cherry
  • Blueberry
  • Orange
  • Or lemon

Apricots are awesome as well, especially since they are in season now. I am actually looking forward to making an upside down mandarin cake in the wintertime.

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (8)

This Upside Down Plum Cake Is:

  • Egg-free,
  • Dairy-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Oil-free
  • Low-fat
  • Moist
  • Fruity
  • Perfect for summer or a birthday
  • Versatile

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (9)

Should you recreate this delicious plum cake, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I love to see your remakes! If you love vegan cakes, definitely also check out the following recipes:

  • Coconut Cake
  • Lava Cake
  • Zucchini Chocolate Cake
  • No-Bake Carrot Cake
  • Fruity Cheesecake
  • Baked Cheesecake

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (11)

Upside Down Plum Cake

Author: Michaela Vais

This delicious upside down plum cake is very easy to make with simple ingredients which you probably already have at home. The recipe is vegan (dairy-free, egg-free), gluten-free, oil-free, and much healthier than other recipes.

4.97 from 33 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Calories 177 kcal

Ingredients

Dry ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups (150 g) oat flour (gluten-free if needed - see notes)
  • 3/4 heaped cup (100 g) ground nuts of choice (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sweetener of choice (see notes)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom (optional)
  • 1/3 tsp salt

Wet ingredients:

Topping:

  • 3-4 plums sliced (see notes)
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Instructions

  • I recommend using a kitchen scale for this recipe.

  • Preheat oven to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform or cake pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides of the springform.

  • Wash, deseed and slice the plums. Arrange them in an overlapping layer on the bottom of the springform/pan. Drizzle with maple syrup and sugar. Set aside.

  • For the cake, combine all dry ingredients in a big bowl. Stir with a whisk until there are no lumps.

  • Whisk together wet ingredients in a different bowl.

  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir with a whisk. Spoon the batter into the cake pan/springform and spread it out evenly.

  • Bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

  • Allow the cake to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes before inverting the cake on a platter. Carefully peel off the parchment paper.

  • Cool for 10 more minutes, then slice and enjoy! The cake can be served with vegan whipped cream or ice cream!

Notes

  • Oat flour: To make your own oat flour, simply process oats (regular or gluten-free) in a blender or electric coffee/spice grinder. You can try using buckwheat flour for a grain-free version. Also, regular flour or spelt flour (for a non-gluten-free version) could work well in this recipe (I haven't tried it myself though).
  • Shredded unsweetened coconut can be used instead of ground nuts. Please don't use coconut flour. It won't work in this recipe! Please don't substitute any regular flour (except almond flour) for the ground nuts. Since the recipe is oil-free, there needs to be a source of fat.
  • Granulated sweetener: You can use regular sugar, cane sugar, Erythritol, Xylitol (birch sugar), coconut sugar, etc.
  • Any plant-based milk can be used in this recipe. I prefer to use canned coconut milk, however, almond milk, cashew milk, etc. should work fine as well. The higher the fat content of the milk, the better the cake will taste.
  • Feel free to use your favorite fruit instead of plums. Some examples are apricots, oranges, mandarines, pineapple!
  • You can also check out my Plum And Apple Crumble Recipe.
  • The recipe serves 10. Nutrition facts are for one serving.

Nutrition Facts

Upside Down Plum Cake

Amount per Serving

Calories

177

% Daily Value*

Fat

6.3

g

10

%

Carbohydrates

25

g

8

%

Fiber

3.1

g

12

%

Sugar

15

g

17

%

Protein

4.4

g

9

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically

Equipment

Kitchen scale*

8-inch springform*

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (12) Simple and Delicious Vegan Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!

If you are using Pinterest, feel free to pin the following photo:

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (13)

Upside Down Plum Cake | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

FAQs

Why is plum cake so expensive? ›

Plum cake usually contains rum as an ingredient along with various nuts, olives, and apricots. The alcohol ingredient is responsible for its higher cost and a peculiar yet awesome taste.

What is so special about plum cake? ›

Plum cakes have a fascinating history originating in medieval England where a fasting tradition preceded Christmas. The precursor to plum cake was a porridge-like dish made with dried fruits, oats, spices, and honey. The recipe evolved with the substitution of oats with flour, and the addition of eggs and butter.

Why is plum cake sour? ›

What is special about a plum cake? Unlike most of the cakes which are prepared in some minutes to a couple of hours, the preparation of this cake takes months. The slightly bitter taste and strong texture of this cake are due to the dry fruits are usually soaked in brandy or rum for months.

What is the translation of plum cake? ›

Translation of plum-cake – Italian–English dictionary

plum cake , plum pudding [noun] (a) cake or pudding containing raisins, currants etc.

Is plum cake junk food? ›

Plums are rich in various nutrients, which make plum cakes a healthy food choice despite being a dessert.

Which country is famous for plum cake? ›

Plum cake has historically referred to an early type and style of fruitcake in England since around 1700.

Why is there no plum in plum cake? ›

However, one thing was for certain: there were no plums in this dish, which makes the origin of its name a mystery. Some believe that raisins were referred to as 'plums' in medieval England; since the recipe called for an abundance of them, the dish came to be known as 'plum pudding'.

What is the difference between a fruit cake and a plum cake? ›

A Fruit Cake is a normal vanilla cake with fruits in it. Whereas a Plum Cake is made with dry fruits soaked in alcohol/orange juice for more than a day. A Fruit Cake's colour is white to yellowish inside, whereas a Plum Cake's colour is brown to dark brown inside.

Should plum cake be refrigerated? ›

The cake needs to be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. If you live in a hot or humid environment then it may be better to either freeze the cake until you want to ice or serve it, or keep it in the fridge.

Why do Christians eat plum cake? ›

The plum cake's history can be traced back to medieval England, where the weeks leading up to Christmas, called Advent, saw a period of self-denial, fasting and abstinence. This was supposed to prepare the body for the festive season of feasts and indulgences, and also to save food for the celebrations.

Why is alcohol used in plum cake? ›

Dried Fruits Used for Fruit Cake

Liquor like rum, brandy, red wine is used for soaking of fruits. If you don't want to use alcohol you can use orange juice for soaking. I soaked the dry fruits for 2 days, by which time the fruits soaked up the rum and was beautifully soft and plumped up.

What is plum slang for? ›

Plum” as an adjective means “desirable,” as in “a plum job.” The Dictionary of American Slang says that usage arose around 1825, and may be related to Little Jack Horner and how good and lucky he was to pull “plums” out of pies.

What is the most expensive type of cake in the world? ›

The "Diamond Cake" by Debbie Wingham - Price: $75 million

An amalgamation of luxury and confectionary art, it's embedded with more than 4000 diamonds, including pink, yellow, and white ones, making it not just a cake but a jewelled masterpiece. It's no wonder it holds the crown for the most expensive cake in the world!

What is the difference between plum cake and normal cake? ›

A Fruit Cake is a normal vanilla cake with fruits in it. Whereas a Plum Cake is made with dry fruits soaked in alcohol/orange juice for more than a day. A Fruit Cake's colour is white to yellowish inside, whereas a Plum Cake's colour is brown to dark brown inside.

What is the most expensive Christmas fruit cake? ›

Diamond fruitcake – $1,650,000 ($ 1.65 million) World's Most Expensive Desserts - Diamond Fruitcake Sold on Christmas 2005, this cake was also created by a Japanese pastry chef. Creating the cake required six months of conceptualization and another month to produce it. It's decorated with 223 diamonds.

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