Pioneer Woman Prune Cake Recipe
This Pioneer Woman Prune Cake is a moist, spiced treat featuring a luscious prune-infused batter topped with a rich, warm buttermilk icing. It combines warm spices like nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon with the natural sweetness of prunes to create a comforting dessert perfect for any occasion.
- Author: mia
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Southern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup prunes
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 whole eggs
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 1/2 cups sifted flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 300°F. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan to ensure your cake releases smoothly after baking.
- Simmer and Mash Prunes: Place the prunes in a saucepan with enough water to cover them. Simmer gently for about 8 minutes until soft, then drain the prunes and mash them thoroughly to create a smooth prune mixture.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and canola oil until well combined and slightly frothy to incorporate air for a lighter texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agent.
- Incorporate Dry and Buttermilk Alternately: Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk into the wet mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and tough cake texture.
- Add Vanilla and Fold in Prunes: Stir in the vanilla extract, then carefully fold the mashed prunes into the batter, ensuring an even distribution without deflating the mixture.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Prepare the Icing: While the cake is baking, combine the sugar, buttermilk, baking soda, white corn syrup, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes without stirring to allow the mixture to thicken and develop flavor.
- Add Vanilla to Icing: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract for added aroma and flavor.
- Ice the Cake: As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour the warm icing evenly over the hot cake to absorb and create a glossy, flavorful topping.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool slightly before slicing and serving. This ensures the icing sets properly and the cake holds its shape.
Notes
- Use prune puree for a smoother texture if preferred.
- Make sure the prunes are well mashed to avoid large chunks in the cake.
- Buttermilk can be substituted with a mixture of milk and vinegar or lemon juice if unavailable.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour blend.
- Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- This cake pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee or tea.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: Pioneer Woman, prune cake, spiced cake, buttermilk icing, prune recipe, dessert, moist cake