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Plum Tray Bake with a Cheesecake Ripple

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Plum Tray Bake with a Cheesecake Ripple

Plums are in season and become wonderfully juicy and sweet when baked in this creamy, spongy dessert, which makes a perfect teatime treat too.

Preparation time:
20 minutes
Cooking time:
45 minutes
Total time:
1 hour 5 minutes 60 minutes 5 minutes
Makes:
 10 squares

Ingredients

  • 200g tub cream cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla bean extract
  • 3 tbsp caster sugar
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 175g unsalted butter, softened
  • 175g dark muscovado sugar
  • 200g self-raising flour
  • 400g ripe plums, halved, stoned and roughly chopped

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 28cm x 18cm shallow baking tin with baking parchment, making sure that the paper comes higher than the rim of the tin.
  2. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the vanilla bean paste or extract, caster sugar and one of the eggs, and beat using a hand-held electric whisk until smooth.
  3. Place the remaining eggs, butter, muscovado sugar and flour in a separate bowl. Beat for about 2 minutes until pale and creamy.
  4. Spread half of the creamed flour mixture onto the base of the tray, then dollop half of the cream cheese mixture over it, spreading an uneven swirl through the base mixture. Scatter with half of the plums. Spoon the remaining creamed flour mixture on top and dot with the rest of the cream cheese.
  5. Scatter with the remaining plums then bake for about 45 minutes until risen and just firm to touch. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into pieces. Serve warm or cold, with ice cream.

Cook's tips

When cooked, the surface of this tray bake should feel just firm to the touch, but bear in mind that it will firm-up slightly as it cools. If over-baked, it will lose its moist texture.

Drinks recommendation

Brandy and plums are the perfect match.

Comments and images

Average user rating 5 stars out of 5

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Little Miss Baker

Little Miss Baker 18 June 2011 12:53

made this t least 3 times, each time a hit with family, again cheese sauce was to runny for 'ripple effect', but tastes and looks just as nice! entering this dish into a competition, i think i've found a winner!

Marigoldcook

Marigoldcook 09 September 2010 20:59

I have made this cake many times but only once with the cheese. The cheese was overkill! Omit the cheese and use one less egg and it is a delicious, moist plum cake.

kgb

kgb 14 January 2009 19:36

Lovely recipe. The last time I made it I left the egg out of the cheese mixture (by mistake). My family thought it was a much better that way ! Have also tried it with apples and other fruits. The sponge mixture is a wonderful base.

The Simisters

The Simisters 26 October 2008 20:16

Hi Ladies, I have just read your comments and I have basically found that if you whip the cream cheese mixture for about 5 minutes you get the desired "Dollop" consistency! I have even made this with Duck eggs and it is absolutely wonderful...

Jennyroaming

Jennyroaming 14 October 2008 00:26

Lovely recipe but the cheese mixture far too runny, used Phildephia cheese full fat soft cheese. ? use egg yolk only next time. Yes there will be a next time delicious.

Jennyroaming

Jennyroaming 14 October 2008 00:22

Delicious but I had the same problem with the cheesecake part of the recipe very liquid and I used a medium egg. I am wondering whether best to use only the egg yolk. The cream cheese was the standard Phildephia type.... is the stuff sold on waitrose deli counter of a thicker variety??? Just a thought. Waitrose chef would welcome your observations... Will be cooking this recipe again! Definetely.

katy

katy 06 October 2008 22:16

Made this at the weekend and it was a complete hit. My cheesy mixture went really runny - perhaps my egg was too big? - so I didn't quite get the rippled effect, more of a layer on top as you can see from the photo. But it was delicious and everyone commented on how light and fluffy the mixture was. We had it hot with custard for Sunday lunch, but we thought it was even better later that afternoon cold with a cup of tea.

katy

katy 05 October 2008 18:42

I made this today and it was a complete hit! It's so light and fluffy - delicious. I found the 'cheesy' mixture very runny so I didn't get the dollopy effect mentioned in the recipe. But it was so tasty I'll definitely make it again. I'm sure you could do an apple and cinnamon version.

katy

katy 20 September 2008 22:13

I haven't actually tried this one yet, but just the title makes my mouthwater! It's bound to be good!

The Simisters

The Simisters 16 September 2008 18:19

I made this recipe the other day, and it is absolutely gorgeous.(Although I did have to cook it for longer than the recipe specified) Everybody who had a slice loved it and came back for more! This will become one of my families favourites... Great with either ice cream or cream.

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5 stars out of 5

Average user rating Based on 68 ratings

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Nutritional Info

Typical values per serving:
Energy 421.0kcal
Sugars 27.6g
Fat 27.0g
Saturated Fat 16.2g
Salt 0.4g

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This recipe was first published on Waitrose.com in September 2008