Quick Vanilla Plum Sponge

Since I had the oven on for chicken casserole, I decided to use up some plums that were on the verge of turning by popping them on top of a basic vanilla sponge mix. Reminds of the pflaumenkuchen I used to eat in Germany but without the sweet crumble on top. Served hot with creme fraiche. Yummy!

Here's my recipe...

Quick Vanilla Plum Sponge
Serves 4

Ingredients:

100g butter
100g caster sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp real vanilla extract
100g self raising flour, sifted
2/3 plums, washed, de-stoned and sliced

Baking tray lined with greased baking parchment (I used a 7" square tin but you could use a sandwich cake tin).

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / 356F / Gas Mark 4.
• Cream together the butter and sugar.
• Add a little of the flour then whisk in the eggs.
• Mix in the vanilla extract.
• Fold in the rest of the flour.
• Spoon into baking tray and gently spread it evenly. 
• Lay plum slices on top, making sure there is space between each one for the sponge to rise up and cook.
• Cook for 30-40 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool until the sponge starts pulling away from the edges of the tin. Remove from tin by placing a plate over the top of the cake, turning upside down. The tin should come away leaving the cake upside down on the plate. Get a cooling wire and place on top of the cake and turning over again carefully keeping the plate in place until it's the right way up. Hmmm, long winded explanation but I'm sure you know what I mean!