
Straightforward.
Scrumptious.
Solely 7 components!!
This vegan plum torte is my veganization of Marian Burros’s Authentic Plum Torte recipe, which has a whopping 16,730 opinions averaging an ideal 5-star ranking on the NYT’s Cooking app (which I like, btw). Plums are peaking proper now and there’s no motive that non-dairy, egg-free of us can’t get pleasure from this lovely, straightforward, and rustic fruit cake that requires so few components and little work. Whether or not you’re seeking to convey the showstopper to your subsequent potluck or just need one thing scrumptious together with your morning espresso, you’re in for a candy deal with!
So, with out additional ado, let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: Among the hyperlinks on this put up could also be affiliate hyperlinks for merchandise I take advantage of and love. In case you make a purchase order after clicking a kind of hyperlinks, I could earn a small affiliate fee, maybe sufficient to purchase some additional gochujang or gochugaru 🙂
What Is The Distinction Between a Torte and a Tart and a Cake?


Let’s begin with:
What’s a torte? A torte is a dense, wealthy, virtually fudge-like cake. A lot of them are made with little to no flour, opting as a substitute for nuts or bread crumbs. Tortes are normally layered and in lieu of heavy frostings, function jams or fruit as a substitute.
How is that this totally different from a cake? Truffles are normally fluffier, that includes a lighter crumb. As a result of truffles are made with flour, they’re dimensionally greater than tortes (that are usually flatter). And in contrast to tortes, that are pretty simple by way of ornament, truffles may be elaborate affairs, that includes wealthy frostings, fondant, and all types of toppings.
How is a torte totally different from a tart? Typically talking, the primary distinction is {that a} tart historically entails a crust, which normally means there’s a filling. These are two tell-tale indicators that no matter scrumptious pastry you’re delighting in is a tart, reasonably than a torte or a mere cake.
To be trustworthy, this recipe is made with flour (you’ll be able to sub in gluten-free), contains no nuts or bread crumbs, and has just one layer. Accordingly, I don’t assume it really qualifies as a vegan plum torte; nevertheless, as a result of it’s a veganized model of Burros’s well-known recipe of that very same identify, I gained’t quibble!


Key Elements and Notes on Substitutions for Vegan Plum Torte.


Because the title of this weblog put up advertises, there are solely 7 components on this vegan plum torte! So, let’s undergo every of them in flip:
Plums.


Sure, this vegan plum torte would require plums! I went to my native farmers’ market and had the seller assist me pick the perfect plums for my vegan plum torte, however right here’s a small, truncated information in that regard:
When are plums in season? Plums are in peak season from the months of June to August in the USA, as are most stone fruits. Scorching summer time temps = plum season!
How to pick candy plums? Verify for uniform colour and consistency. Spotty or damaged pores and skin normally is not going to yield candy fruit.
Can I take advantage of golden plums? Sure! My farmers market had a wide range of totally different sorts of plums and I picked out a pair from every basket, together with some lovely golden plums or Mirabelle plums. They’re very candy, a bit tart, and have a young flesh that works so properly with this vegan plum torte.
Now, I do know what you’re going to ask–can I take advantage of frozen plums? Certain factor! If plums will not be in season while you come across this recipe, however you will have a stash of frozen ones, go for it!
Can you employ prunes? I imply, you’ll be able to strive? The factor with prunes is that you will want to rehydrate them and after that, I can’t converse to how a lot the quantity of liquid or the cook dinner time on this recipe will have to be adjusted. Recent plums are juicy, and this recipe relies upon upon that juice to maintain the torte good and moist.


Vegan Butter.
As I discussed above, one of many important variations between a torte and a cake is {that a} torte is wealthy and dense. How will we obtain that texture on this vegan plum torte? We depend on vegan butter. Why vegan butter? As a result of it’s solid-ish at room temperature. Anytime you’re making an attempt to create density in a pastry, butter is normally concerned exactly due to its consistency at room temperature. If you would like a fluffier pastry, then you definately go together with oil–one thing that’s liquid at room temperature.
This must also show you how to in making an attempt to determine substitutes, proper? What’s a supply of fats that’s comparatively stable at room temp? Vegetable shortening is one. So is coconut oil. These are the 2 substitutes I might suggest for this vegan plum torte when you can’t get your fingers on vegan butter.
Sugar.
I do know that a few of you don’t like sugar, however hear me out:
This recipe requires much less sugar than most.
This recipe requires sugar to assist with fluffing up and leavening your pastry.
This recipe may be reserved only for these particular events.
Look, tortes are typically thought-about to be a extra “elevated” dish (did I say that in a snooty British accent? possibly…), so that you don’t need to make this dish on your on a regular basis breakfast (although you may…). Extra to the purpose from a methodological level of you, the sugar is important to cream the butter. What does “cream the butter” imply? No, it’s not an entendre; it’s a literal factor you do to aerate your butter. The sugar crystals are arduous and sharp, and while you combine them with softened (and even chilly) butter, the crystals create teensy little air pockets within the butter. This “fluffy” butter will then assist to create a bit elevate in your pastry.
Given the dearth of eggs, vegan pastries want all the assistance they’ll get on the subject of candy structure. That mentioned, tortes will not be meant to be fluffy. They’re speculated to be dense. In case you’re comfortable with a really flat, tremendous dense torte, you might substitute with:
- Date sugar
- Coconut sugar
- Brown sugar
I might not attempt to substitute with a liquid sweetener right here, as doing so might lead to a ceaselessly uncooked torte. An alternative choice can be to chop the quantity of sugar on this recipe to 1/2 cup (versus 3/4).
Vegan Hello-Protein Yogurt.
Hello, sure, vegan hi-protein yogurt once more! It’s now my go-to egg substitute for pastries, because it labored out so properly for my vegan banana bread and my vegan chocolate chip cookies. As soon as once more, the protein within the yogurt will assist with construction on this vegan plum torte. The acid within the yogurt can even preserve your torte tender and gentle. I used Silk’s Non-dairy Vanilla Greek Yogurt for this recipe and it turned out nice. You too can use Icelandic Skyr and even Siggi’s hi-protein yogurt.
As for substitutes, you’ll be able to, after all, use non-high-protein yogurt, although you might need a flatter torte (nonetheless scrumptious!). You too can use vegan bitter cream as a fantastic substitute. Lastly, apple sauce or mashed bananas can even function efficient binding brokers that additionally lend moisture, however will result in a flatter torte.
All Function Flour.
Many tortes don’t embrace flour in any respect, which is why I query whether or not the unique plum torte recipe was actually a torte and never, maybe, a easy plum cake. Be that as it could, like the unique, this vegan plum torte contains 1 cup of all goal flour. You possibly can, after all, substitute with gluten-free flour (I actually like Bob’s Crimson Mill’s GF mix).
Floor Cinnamon.
I’m normally not an enormous fan of floor cinnamon, nevertheless it provides a substantial amount of dimension to this vegan plum torte, I might not skip it! In case you don’t have floor cinnamon, you should utilize a bit pumpkin spice seasoning, a tiny little bit of nutmeg, and even floor cardamom if you wish to get a bit fancy. You too can end the vegan plum torte with a bit powdered sugar, although I feel cinnamon provides it that “elevated” aptitude.
Baking Powder.
With out eggs, we want baking powder. Of all of the issues which might be going to make sure that this vegan plum torte doesn’t flip right into a brick, baking powder is that! There’s no substitute for this one!
Step-by-Step Directions for Making Vegan plum torte.


Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper and customarily grease the edges (this torte will need to stick!).
Cream the butter by including each the butter and sugar to a big bowl (if utilizing a hand mixer) or the bowl of your stand mixer. Combine on low and slowly improve velocity till your sugar is totally integrated and your butter is gentle yellow and fluffy.
Add the vegan yogurt and blend on excessive till totally integrated (about 30 seconds). Then, sift within the flour and baking powder and blend till a thick batter types. Spoon the batter into your springform pan and unfold it out evenly utilizing the again of a giant spoon or an offset spatula.


Place pitted plum halves skin-side up within the batter. Attempt to keep away from getting too near the sting of the cake, as doing so will make liberating the cake out of your pan infinitely tougher (I realized that the arduous method….). Don’t put in too many plum halves shut collectively, as doing so will crush your torte and make it extra more likely to collapse. You need there to be some house between them. Sprinkle with floor cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of sugar.


Bake within the oven for 60 to 67 minutes (will depend upon how juicy your plums are), till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear. Cool for no less than 10 minutes. Then, run a pointy knife across the edge earlier than undoing the spring and liberating the cake from the pan. Enable the cake to chill for an additional 10 minutes earlier than serving with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or ice cream and slices of recent plum.


Often Requested Questions.
Are you able to make this vegan plum torte gluten-free?
Sure! Simply swap in your favourite gluten-free flour mix for all goal flour and this vegan plum torte might be gluten-free!
What’s the distinction between a torte and a cake?
Tortes are normally denser and richer than a cake, whereas additionally being much less elaborate and easy (not plenty of frosting or adorning concerned).
How do I retailer leftovers of my vegan plum torte?
Any leftovers of your vegan plum torte must be coated and positioned within the fridge. Your torte must be good for the subsequent 5 days.
Need Extra Nice Vegan Desserts?
I obtained you. Try the next:
Recipe Card.


Vegan Plum Torte.
A veganized model of a traditional fruit cake!
-
Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper and customarily grease the edges (this torte will need to stick!).Cream the butter by including each the butter and sugar to a big bowl (if utilizing a hand mixer) or the bowl of your stand mixer. Combine on low and slowly improve velocity till your sugar is totally integrated and your butter is gentle yellow and fluffy.
-
Add the vegan yogurt and blend on excessive till totally integrated (about 30 seconds). Then, sift within the flour and baking powder and blend till a thick batter types. Spoon the batter into your springform pan and unfold it out evenly utilizing the again of a giant spoon or an offset spatula.
-
Place pitted plum halves skin-side up within the batter. Attempt to keep away from getting too near the sting of the cake, as doing so will make liberating the cake out of your pan infinitely tougher (I realized that the arduous method….). Do not put in too many plum halves shut collectively, as doing so will crush your torte and make it extra more likely to collapse. You need there to be some house between them. Sprinkle with floor cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
-
Bake within the oven for 60 to 67 minutes (will depend upon upon how juicy your plums are), till a toothpick inserted within the middle comes out clear. Cool for no less than 10 minutes. Then, run a pointy knife across the edge earlier than undoing the spring and liberating the cake from the pan. Enable the cake to chill for an additional 10 minutes earlier than serving with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or ice cream and slices of recent plum.
- Please verify the Key Elements and Substitutions part earlier than asking about substitutions. 🙂
- As a result of it is a dense torte, it is going to need to adhere to your springform pan. Accordingly, you MUST line the underside with parchment paper! Don’t skip this!! And ensure to grease the edges!
- The batter might be tremendous thick so it’ll be a bit like making cobbler. You’ll have to spoon it into your pan and unfold it out.
- I like to recommend small to medium plums for this recipe. In case your plums are too massive, they may break up the steadiness of the cake. If all you bought are massive plums, I might reduce them into smaller items, in lieu of simply halving them.
- Your torte will want time to chill as a result of the plums might be oozing all their juices. In case you dive in too early, your torte will collapse!
Energy: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFats: 10gSaturated Fats: 3gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 4gTrans Fats: 0.1gSodium: 158mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 2gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 685IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 1mg
Be aware: Dietary data is supplied on your comfort. It ought to solely be thought-about an estimate that may fluctuate drastically relying on a large number of things (e.g. additions, subtractions, quantity and sort of oil used, and many others.)
Did you want this recipe? In that case, please go away a ranking and share it!