Mandarin Plumcake

Mandarin plumcake is a delicious variant of the classic plumcake, carrying with it the aroma and flavor of citrus fruits. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 g of all-purpose flour
• 100 g of soft butter
• 150 g of granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 mandarins (juice and grated zest)
• 1 packet of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar (optional, for decoration)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and butter and flour a plumcake pan.
2. Wash the mandarins, grate the zest, and then squeeze them to obtain the juice.
3. In a bowl, whip the soft butter with the granulated sugar until you have a smooth and fluffy mixture.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, continuing to beat after each addition.
5. Stir in the grated zest of the mandarins and their juice, mixing everything well.
6. Separately, sift the flour with the baking powder and salt, then incorporate it into the egg and butter mixture, mixing gently until you have a smooth batter without lumps.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared plumcake pan and level it with a spatula.
8. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the plumcake comes out clean.
9. Let the plumcake cool in its pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it onto a rack to cool completely.
10. If desired, before serving, you can dust the plumcake with powdered sugar.

Trivia

The term “plumcake” comes from English, where it traditionally referred to a cake containing plums (“plum”). However, today, under this name, various types of baked desserts are prepared, with or without fruit. In the case of the mandarin plumcake, the citrus adds a unique freshness to the dessert, making it especially appreciated in the colder seasons when these fruits are at their peak of ripeness.