Jamie Oliver’s Perfect Plum Upside Down Cake Recipe

Plum upside down cake transforms ordinary ingredients into a spectacular dessert that dazzles your senses.

Sweet, vibrant plums create a stunning caramelized topping that melts into a soft, tender cake base.

Rich brown sugar and warm spices elevate this rustic treat beyond typical fruit desserts.

Each slice promises a perfect balance of juicy fruit and delicate crumb, making it irresistible for any gathering.

The magic happens when you invert the cake, revealing a gorgeous layer of glistening, caramelized plums.

Seasonal fruits shine in this simple yet elegant recipe that feels both comforting and sophisticated.

Home bakers can easily master this impressive dessert with a few straightforward techniques: prepare to wow your friends and family.

Why Jamie Oliver’s Plum Upside Down Cake Steals the Show

• Caramelize and Decorate with Plums: This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a stunning dessert with a gorgeous caramelized plum topping that creates a beautiful, glossy pattern when flipped. Each slice reveals a stunning arrangement of soft, glistening plum slices that look like edible artwork.
• Quick and Foolproof Baking Method: Jamie Oliver's approach makes this cake incredibly beginner-friendly, requiring basic mixing techniques and minimal technical skills. The one-pan method eliminates complicated steps, allowing home bakers to create a professional-looking dessert with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
• Versatile Comfort Dessert: Perfect for casual gatherings or elegant dinner parties, this cake bridges the gap between rustic charm and sophisticated flavor. Its adaptable nature means you can serve it warm or at room temperature, making it a stress-free dessert option that works for multiple occasions and suits different serving preferences.
• Sensational Flavor and Texture Combination: The cake delivers a delightful contrast between the tender, soft cake base and the rich, caramelized plum layer. Sweet, slightly tangy plums meld beautifully with the rich, buttery cake, creating a harmonious balance that tingles your taste buds with every single bite.

What Goes Into Jamie Oliver’s Plum Cake

• Unsalted Butter: A key ingredient for creating a rich, moist cake with smooth texture and enhancing overall flavor.
• Light Brown Sugar: Provides deep sweetness and helps create a caramel-like layer with rich molasses notes.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds structure to the cake.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and tangy flavor, creating a tender cake crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet aromatics.

• All-Purpose Flour: Fundamental structure for the cake, providing necessary protein for baking.
• Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances other flavors in the cake.

• Plums: Fresh, ripe fruits that create a beautiful caramelized topping with sweet-tart flavor.
• Brown Sugar: Creates a rich, sticky layer that caramelizes during baking and complements the plums.

Bake Your Own Plum Cake the Jamie Oliver Way

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven and Melt Butter

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Place of unsalted butter in an 8-inch cake pan and slide it into the oven to melt completely.

Step 2: Create the Plum Base

Remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle of packed brown sugar evenly over the melted butter. Artfully arrange thinly sliced plums in slightly overlapping circular patterns on top of the sugar layer.

Step 3: Whip Up the Cake Batter

• Room-temperature unsalted butter
• Packed light brown sugar

Beat until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Add 1 egg and continue beating until well combined. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract, blending until smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

Gradually add sifted dry ingredients to the mixture on a low-speed setting. Slowly increase the mixer speed, beating until the batter becomes silky smooth. Be cautious not to overmix.

Step 5: Layer the Cake

Gently spoon the batter over the arranged plums, spreading it evenly across the pan with a spatula.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the cake into the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the pan’s edge and confidently flip the cake onto a serving plate. Enjoy warm or at room temperature. For an extra treat, serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tips for Nailing Jamie Oliver’s Plum Cake Texture

• Prevent Plum Slipping: Arrange slices with tweezers or carefully place them in a precise pattern to stop fruit from sliding during baking.
• Capture Caramel Magic: Tilt the pan gently while spreading melted butter and brown sugar to ensure complete and even coverage for a stunning caramelized base.
• Smooth Batter Blending: Fold ingredients gently using a spatula, turning the bowl as you mix to incorporate everything without overworking the mixture.
• Temperature Control Matters: Check cake doneness by pressing the center lightly – it should spring back immediately when fully baked.
• Serving Suggestion Hack: Run a knife around the pan's edges before inverting to release the cake cleanly and maintain its beautiful plum design.

Best Way to Store Plum Upside Down Cake

• Cool Down Method: Quickly transfer leftover cake to an airtight glass container, ensuring a tight seal to lock in moisture and preserve its delicate texture. Slide the container into the refrigerator's middle shelf, away from strong-smelling ingredients like onions or garlic.
• Freeze with Care Method: Portion the cake into individual servings, wrapping each slice tightly in two layers of plastic wrap and a final layer of aluminum foil. Label each package with the date and contents, then place in the freezer where temperatures remain consistently cold. Frozen slices maintain peak quality for up to 2 months.
• Room Temperature Revival Method: Remove the cake from cold storage 30-45 minutes before serving, allowing it to gradually warm and restore its original soft crumb. Place on a clean countertop, uncovered, so condensation doesn't compromise the cake's delightful surface texture.

Tasty Variations on Jamie Oliver’s Plum Dessert

• Peach Paradise: Swap plums with ripe peaches, creating a golden summer version that bursts with sweet, juicy flavors and maintains the same moist cake texture.
• Almond Berry Fusion: Replace standard vanilla with almond extract and add a layer of mixed berries underneath the fruit, introducing a nutty complexity and vibrant color contrast.
• Caramel Spice Sensation: Incorporate ground cinnamon and nutmeg into the cake batter, then drizzle caramel sauce over the finished cake for a rich, warming dessert experience that elevates the original recipe's comfort factor.
• Tropical Coconut Dream: Mix shredded coconut into the cake batter and use tropical fruits like mango or pineapple instead of plums, transforming the classic recipe into an island-inspired treat with subtle exotic notes.

Our Final Word on Jamie’s Plum Cake

Plum paradise awaits with Jamie Oliver’s delightful dessert masterpiece.

Sweet caramelized plums nestle beneath a tender, golden cake base.

Rich brown sugar creates a luscious glaze that elevates each delectable slice.

British culinary magic shines through this simple yet elegant recipe.

Classic comfort meets seasonal sophistication in one spectacular dish.

Adventurous bakers, grab your whisks and create magic – snap a photo, share the deliciousness, and spread sweet joy across social media platforms!

Jamie Oliver Plum Upside Down Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Jamie Oliver’s Plum Upside Down Cake celebrates British seasonal fruits with caramelized elegance. Sweet plums nestle atop a golden sponge, delivering rich Mediterranean-inspired comfort that delights dessert enthusiasts with each luscious slice.

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Ingredients

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Fruits:

• 4–5 fresh plums (enough to cover the bottom of an 8-inch pan, pitted and thinly sliced)

Wet Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream, at room temperature (full-fat recommended)

Dry Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup (70 grams) light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 325ºF (165ºC). Melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in an 8-inch cake pan by placing it directly in the heating oven.
2. Remove the pan from the oven and evenly distribute 1/3 cup of packed light brown sugar over the melted butter. Create decorative circular layers by positioning thinly sliced plums in slightly overlapping patterns atop the sugar base.
3. Use an electric mixer to cream room-temperature unsalted butter with packed light brown sugar until achieving a fluffy, light consistency. Incorporate one egg, blending thoroughly until integrated.
4. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until the mixture appears smooth and homogeneous.
5. Sift dry ingredients and gradually incorporate them into the mixture using low mixer speed. Incrementally increase mixing speed, ensuring the batter remains smooth without overmixing.
6. Carefully transfer the batter into the prepared pan, gently spreading it to create an even layer that completely covers the plum arrangement.
7. Position the cake in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean without wet batter.
8. After baking, let the cake rest on a wire cooling rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the pan’s edges to loosen the cake.
9. Invert the cake onto a serving plate, allowing the plum layer to become the attractive top surface. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally accompanied by lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

• Plums transform from ordinary fruit to a luxurious dessert centerpiece with caramelized layers that glisten and shine.
• Fresh seasonal stone fruits create dramatic visual impact when carefully arranged in concentric circular patterns.
• Warm serving releases a sticky caramel glaze that clings beautifully to each tender cake slice.
• Room temperature ingredients guarantee smoother batter with consistently lighter cake texture.
• Sour cream introduces rich moisture and subtle tangy undertones that perfectly balance sweet plum flavors.
• Minimal mixing protects the delicate cake structure, ensuring an incredibly tender and soft crumb.
• Brief cooling before inverting allows caramel to set firmly, preventing potential structural cake collapse.
• Incredibly versatile dessert equally stunning as casual afternoon snack or sophisticated dinner party finale.
• Leftover cake remains deliciously moist when sealed in airtight container at room temperature for several days.
• Topping with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream instantly elevates this rustic cake into an indulgent culinary experience.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Sugar: 17 g
• Sodium: 97 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 31 mg