Recipe

Plum Butter Almond Mochi Cake

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by gingerroot

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by gingerroot

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by gingerroot

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe for Plums

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Gluten-Free Baked Good
vvvanessa's Testing Notes: As gingerroot says, this recipe is forgiving and foolproof. It's also deliciously chewy, plummy, and just sweet enough. It's particularly addictive still warm, if my standing over the cooling...
As gingerroot says, this recipe is forgiving and foolproof. It's also deliciously chewy, plummy, and just sweet enough. It's particularly addictive still warm, if my standing over the cooling pan carving out wedge after wedge of cake is any indicator. When I make this cake again (clearly I'll have to since I ate most of the first one already), I'll use vanilla extract for about half the almond (a little almond extract goes a long way for my palate), add some salt, and maybe throw in another plum. I'll also make sure someone else is home to keep me from eating it all again. - vvvanessa

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Chef
gingerroot's Notes: Having grown up in Hawai`i, I have grown up eating all kinds of mochi. Mochi soup, or ozoni, at every New Year’s celebration, chichidango, the slightly sweet, often pink, rectangular mochi...
Having grown up in Hawai`i, I have grown up eating all kinds of mochi. Mochi soup, or ozoni, at every New Year’s celebration, chichidango, the slightly sweet, often pink, rectangular mochi heralding Girl’s Day, and the countless other variations that are made and shared at gatherings of family or friends. I have vivid memories of my Great-Grandfather, who came to Hawai`i from Okinawa to work on a pineapple plantation, enjoying mochi, manju and anpan, the sweet treats that reminded him of home. I would be remiss not to include a plum recipe that incorporated mochi. Inspired by a mochi cake recipe from a local cookbook, I substituted agave for sugar, added almond meal and almond extract to pair with the plums and the result is a chewy on the outside, moist, and subtly sweet cake that contrasts beautifully with the tart (by comparison) ripe plum–and gluten free to boot!
Note: I tend to cook with abandon, which does not usually translate into baking. However, this recipe is very forgiving. All you have to do is mix and bake – it is foolproof. - gingerroot

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Serves Makes one large 9 x 13 pan or 16 - 18 muffin cakes

2 ripe but firm black plums Ask a question about this ingredient

1 box (16 oz.) Mochiko sweet rice flour (I used Koda Farms Blue Star Brand) Ask a question about this ingredient

2 tablespoons almond meal Ask a question about this ingredient

2 teaspoons baking powder Ask a question about this ingredient

2/3 cups + 2 Tablespoon(s) light agave nectar Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon almond extract Ask a question about this ingredient

3 large eggs Ask a question about this ingredient

1 1/4 cup 1% milk Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted Ask a question about this ingredient

No-stick spray for greasing pans Ask a question about this ingredient

Remove skins from plums by placing fruit in a small pot of boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove plums and plunge into bowl of cold water. Halve plums before removing skin (let us just say skinned plums are quite slippery and trying to halve them after removing skin is well...more difficult); skin should slip off easily. Remove stone, cut into wedges and chop.
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Prepare baking pan(s) of choice by spraying with no-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
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In a large bowl, whisk rice flour, almond meal and baking powder.
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In another bowl, mix eggs, agave and almond extract; stir well to combine. Add milk, stirring to combine.
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Make a well in dry ingredients; add liquid mixture, stirring well to combine. Pour melted butter over batter and fold in thoroughly.
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Depending on how you want to add the plums, at this point you can either lightly fold plums into batter or, pour batter into prepared pans and spread plum pieces on top. I tested this recipe twice and tried both methods. I dotted my muffin cakes with plum pieces and folded the plum pieces into the 9 x13 pan. Both methods came out delicious, choose whichever you prefer.
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Transfer batter to baking pan(s) of choice. If using a 9 x 13 baking pan, pour batter into pan and spread evenly, smoothing with an offset spatula. If using muffin tins, fill each one a little more than half (I used an ice cream scoop and it was the perfect amount).
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Place in oven and cook: about 28 minutes for muffins, 45- 50 minutes for 9 x 13 pan. Mochi cake is ready when top is golden brown and a toothpick tested in the center comes out clean. Transfer to racks and allow to thoroughly cool. Cut with a plastic knife. Store in an airtight container; best eaten fresh or consumed within a day or two.
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9 Comments on Plum Butter Almond Mochi Cake

vvvanessa added 11 months ago

im a mochi fiend! i can't wait to try this out. have you tried making it with any sweetener other than agave? maple syrup or honey maybe? mahalo!

gingerroot added 11 months ago

You are so welcome, vvvanessa! I have not tried this with another sweetener...please let me know if you do. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. thanks!

vvvanessa added 11 months ago

don't tell anyone, but i'm making this again this week. it really hits the spot! : )

gingerroot added about 1 year ago

Note: I tested this recipe again tonight using a 9 x 13 pan and made edits accordingly. After eating and sharing the muffin cakes with family and friends I realized that mochi cake is best when the piece is thicker like a brownie - to get the full chewy delicious effect. I also only had one and a half plums left so added a small mango from my CSA box - plum mango yum! Enjoy.

Sagegreen added about 1 year ago

That does look like a great combination! Thanks.

dymnyno added about 1 year ago

gingerroot, I am so glad that you posted a mochi recipe!!! I love it!

gingerroot added about 1 year ago

Thanks, dymnyno! Although I have eaten lots of different kinds of mochi, I have never put together my own cake recipe - I like the consistency of this - not too buttery and not too sweet.

aargersi added about 1 year ago

What's so great about this communtiy is learning new stuff pretty much every day ... have never heard of mochi but now it is on my to try list, just need to track down the sweet rice flour. Plus the part about it being forgiving is very appealing :-)

gingerroot added about 1 year ago

I feel the same way! I love how everyone has unique food – eating and cooking – experiences that bring another perspective to each theme. You should be able to find the sweet rice flour at any Asian market or even the Asian section of some supermarkets. I know my WF carries it...