Oven-Roasted Plum Cakes - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon minced orange zest
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar, divided
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup buttermilk
4 large ripe plums, halved and pitted
whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350. Butter 8 ramekins and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
Combine the sugar and orange zest well.
Cream the butter, 2 T of brown sugar, and the granulated sugar mixture for 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Add the vanilla and mix well.
Add the flour and baking soda and beat on low speed for only 15 seconds.
Pour in the buttermilk and beat for 30 seconds more.
Remove from mixer and use a spatula to finish blending the ingredients if necessary.
Place a half plum, cut side up, into each cup.
Spoon the batter into the ramekins, dividing the batter among them evenly.
Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar evenly over each plum.
Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean.
Cool the cakes 10 minutes.
To serve, top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.