8 Different Types Of Plum Cakes You Should Try This Christmas

The tradition of making fruitcakes, including plum cakes, has been a longstanding tradition and actually has colonial roots. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, families of British officers posted in India, began making plum cakes months in advance to send them to their loved ones. Over the years, plum cakes have been seamlessly integrated into the country’s culinary culture as different versions of plum cakes began emerging with diverse versions and foodies put creative spins on traditional plum cakes. 

Plum cakes are categorised as dry cakes which are made with nuts and dry fruits that are typically pre-soaked in alcohol or orange juice, to make them juicier and sweeter. The adaptation of traditional recipes to include local ingredients and flavours has given way to a host of interesting Western and Indian culinary influences, especially since Christmas in the country has a focus on celebrating multiculturalism. Here are a few different kinds of plum cakes you should definitely explore:

Traditional Christmas Plum Cake

The traditional Christmas plum cake is synonymous with warmth and festivity. Laden with a symphony of dried fruits like raisins, currants, and candied peel and many kinds of nuts like almonds and walnuts, in India, this cake is one of the most enduring symbols of the holiday spirit. Traditional plum cakes are made by soaking the dry ingredients in rum or a concoction of rum, red wine and beer. Although there are other versions of the cake as well which don’t include alcohol.

Whole Wheat Plum Cake

Health-conscious foodies find it easy to indulge in whole wheat plum cake. Whole wheat flour adds to the nutty flavour and hearty texture of the plum cake, offering a wholesome alternative without compromising on taste. It’s usually sweetened with jaggery or honey and similar to traditional plum cakes, a variety of dried fruits like raisins, currants, and candied peel are added to the cake which adds a natural sweetness to the cake.

Marzipan Plum Cake

These kinds of plum cakes usually feature a marzipan fondant and are sometimes layered with vanilla icing. A layer of almond-based marzipan adds sweetness and a nutty richness to the cake. Often considered a decadent treat, this variation elevates the plum cake into a realm of pure opulence. A regular sponge cake can be used for this plum and almonds, hazelnuts and marzipan are usually mixed into the batter.

Spiced Plum Cake

There are many renditions of a spiced plum cake; some versions are even quite summery and can be used all year round. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are usually used to make a spice blend for the cake and sometimes cardamom, ginger and peppermint are added to the mix. One of the most popular plum cakes is the Spiced Streusel Plum Cake, usually made with slices of fresh late summer plums, honey-soaked raisins and spiced walnut streusel.

Dry Fruit Plum Cake

Although classic plum cakes feature dried fruits anyway, a dry fruit plum cake is much more filling and contains a lot more nuts and dried fruits, from seasonal fruits to candied peels. Figs, dates, apricots, cranberries and almonds are a must in festive dry fruit plum cakes. Some guilt-free versions of the cake also feature chopped dates to cut down on the sugar content 

Plant-Based Plum Cakes

Vegan plum cakes are typically made with almond flour, coconut or cashew milk; the nutty accents work well with the abundance of dry fruits. In vegan plum cakes, the nuts and dry fruits are usually soaked in orange juice 

Mawa Plum Cake

The addition of mawa imparts a creamy and melt-in-the-mouth texture to the cake, elevating it to a decadent level. This cake also uses butter to enhance the richness and depth of flavour; the recipe typically involves crumbled mawa which is easy to incorporate into a batter. Make sure the mawa isn’t lumpy so it can add to the consistency as well.

Coconut Plum Cake

This rendition of plum cake is available in some parts of India and is often made with coconut flour; this is softer than usual plum cake and is less dense since it features 2-3 fruits. The coconut base is the highlight of this recipe and almonds and dried fruits are mixed in to enhance the prominent coconut-ty flavour of the cake.