Swedish Plum Toscakaka (Tosca Cake)

This recipe for Swedish Plum toscakaka first appeared on my previous blog, The Culinary Jumble. The recipe has been updated to use spelt flour and the images have been edited.

This plum Tosca cake is Rachel Khoo’s take on the Scandinavian classic, featured in her brand new cook book, The Little Swedish Kitchen.

Who is Rachel Khoo?

Rachel Khoo is a television chef and cookbook author with an extremely like-able, very watchable, girl next door vibe going on. She’s probably most well-known for shows such as A Cook Abroad: Rachel Khoo’s Malaysia and books like My Little French Kitchen. Rachel now lives in Sweden and therefore, not surprisingly, has turned her attention to Swedish cuisine.

When I was asked if I’d like a copy of Rachel’s new book, The Little Swedish Kitchen, the answer was yes. Obviously. I was interested to get my hands on the book as Swedish food can be, well, less adventurous than other cuisines. I was very curious to see what Rachel had made of it. If I am honest, I didn’t really expect to find too many recipes I wasn’t already familiar with.

Of course I was wrong. Although there are Swedish mainstays like buns and kladdkaka, there are also many more inspiring recipes with interesting ingredients. I also like how Rachel has given her own personal twist to Swedish classics.

The book is beautiful to look at, easy to read and cleverly broken down into sections (seasons). I don’t buy many hardback books these days, and it felt luxurious to sit quietly for a minute, turning over page after page full of exquisite food shots and laid back instructions. Sweden and its culture holds fascination for many people. So, if you’ve ever wanted to find out more about the food they eat, you really don’t need to look any further.

It took me forever to decide which recipe I would make first. No prizes for guessing it would be a dessert, though. As I had plums rapidly softening in the fridge, I decided on plum tosca cake, a version of the Scandinavian classic.

What is Toscakaka?

Directly translated, toscakaka means tosca cake. The history of toscakaka is as blurred as the cake is delicious. Truth is, nobody seems to really know for sure where it originated or how it got its name. Rumour has it that it was inspired by Puccini’s opera. Very exciting but it just doesn’t fit with Scandinavia. It’s much more likely to pay homage to the almond cakes found in Tuscany (Toscana in Italian).

Tosca cake is an irresistible combo of soft buttery sponge and crunchy almond topping. The plums complement the cake exceptionally well, adding a tart element to the equation. I can honestly say I’ve never tried anything quite like it. So, if you’re looking for something a little different, this would be perfect.

I pretty much followed Rachel’s recipe to the letter, apart from using spelt flour and halving the ingredients, using a smaller spring-form pan.

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Swedish Plum Toscakaka (Tosca Cake)

Swedish plum toscakaka is a twist on one of Scandinavia's favourite cakes. Buttery sponge, an almond topping made with spelt or regular flour.

Course Cake

Cuisine Swedish

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 8 slices

Ingredients

Sponge:

• 75g (⅓ cup) sugar
• 50g (3½ tbsp) butter (softened)
• 2 eggs (small)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 125g (1 cup) spelt flour (see note 1)

Topping:

• 5 plums (halved and stoned)
• 25g (1¾ tbsp) butter
• 25g (2 tbsp) sugar
• 50g (½ cup) flaked almonds
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1½ tablespoons cream

Instructions

Sponge:

• Pre-heat the oven to 160ºC / 320ºF.
• Prepare a small spring-form pan (mine is 6" / 18cm) by greasing or lining with baking paper.
• Whisk the sugar and butter together until it is pale and fluffy.
• Add in one egg at a time and the vanilla extract, and continue to whisk until everything is well mixed.
• In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder and flour together.
• Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet.
• Pour the thick batter into the prepared tin, and give it a little shake to level if off.
• Place the plums skin side down in the batter and bake for around 30 minutes. Because the cake will be put back into the oven with the topping, aim for a centre that is still a little soft.

Topping:

• While the cake is baking, prepare the topping: First, melt the butter in a small pan.
• Remove from the heat, and add the other ingredients. Stir until everything is well combined.
• When ready, remove the cake from the oven and set the temperature to 180ºC / 350ºF.
• Sprinkle the topping over the cake and spread it carefully, so that there is an even coverage.
• Return the cake to the oven and bake for a further 20-25 minutes, until the top is nice and golden. Serve warm with cream or custard. Enjoy!

Notes

 

1. You can use spelt or regular flour for this recipe (just use the same amount).

 

Disclaimer:

I have converted grams to cups/ounces/tablespoons using online converters. Although I have no reason to believe they are inaccurate, please be aware that I have not made the recipe with imperial measurements.

In addition, many ingredients are different in Europe compared to North America. I do all I can to offer possible alternatives and to ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone. However, results cannot always be guaranteed if you have not used the same ingredients, measurements or methods as me.

Lastly, I do everything I can to ensure that my recipes (and instructions) are accurate and easy to follow. However, I am human, and don't always get it right. If you notice anything strange, a mistake, or even a typo, please let me know in the comments. 

If you’re interested to find out more about Rachel and what she thinks about Swedish food, have a watch of the video below:

I received a free copy of The Little Swedish Kitchen and was kindly given permission to re-create this recipe.