Prune Cake

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

This rich spice cake is made with buttermilk, cooked dried plums, and chopped pecans, then topped with a sweet buttermilk icing.

Ingredients

1 cup pitted prunes
1/2 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons corn syrup, such as Karo®
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1 Heat prunes and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer until prunes tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a fluted tube pan (such as a Bundt).
3 Whisk flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, allspice, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Combine vegetable oil, 1 cup buttermilk, and eggs in a separate bowl; stir into flour mixture until fully incorporated. Beat in drained prunes with an electric mixer (the mixer will break them up a bit). Stir in chopped pecans; pour into the prepared pan.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until a tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cake cool on a wire rack at least 10 minutes.
5 Meanwhile, combine 1 cup sugar, margarine, 1/2 cup buttermilk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil icing for a full 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6 Invert cake onto a platter; pour hot icing over top.