The Enchanted Plum Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 6-8 ripe plums, pitted and sliced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar (for sprinkling)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8 or 9-inch round cake pan.
2. Prepare Plums: Toss the plum slices with lemon juice and set aside.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
6. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
7. Arrange Plums: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Arrange the plum slices on top of the batter in a circular pattern.
8. Sprinkle Sugar: Sprinkle the plums with 1 tbsp of granulated sugar.
9. Bake: Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Cool:
    1. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.