Cake with dried plums and nuts

Dried Plum and Walnut Cake – a delicacy that will delight your senses and remind you of the most beautiful moments spent with your loved ones. This recipe, which I received from an extremely special person, is a true culinary treasure. With a fluffy base, a rich plum cream, and a light and crispy meringue, the cake becomes the 'princess of desserts' on any occasion. Let’s begin our culinary journey!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Number of servings: 12

### Ingredients

For the base:
- 100 g soft butter (at room temperature)
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup sugar (about 200 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda quenched with lemon juice
- 200 g flour (or as needed)

For the cream:
- 500 g dried plums (pitted)
- 300 g soft butter
- 1 cup sugar (about 200 g)
- 500 g sour cream
- 1/2 cup sugar

For the meringue:
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 cup sugar (about 100 g)

### Instructions

1. Preparing the base:
- In a large bowl, mix the soft butter with the sugar and egg yolks using a mixer. Continue mixing until you obtain a smooth and creamy mixture.
- Add the baking soda quenched with lemon juice and the flour gradually, mixing until an elastic dough forms. If necessary, you can add a little more flour to achieve the desired consistency.
- Divide the dough into three equal parts and roll each part out on a sheet of parchment paper, forming three round sheets. Make sure the sheets are thin but not too fragile, so they can be easily handled.
- Bake each sheet in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 8-10 minutes, until they become slightly golden. Be careful not to burn them!

2. Preparing the meringue:
- While the sheets are baking, prepare the meringue. Beat the egg whites with a mixer until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, continuing to mix until you achieve a firm and glossy meringue.
- If you prefer, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to improve the meringue's texture.

3. Preparing the cream:
- Place the dried plums in a blender and blend well. Then, add the butter, sugar, and sour cream, continuing to blend until you obtain a smooth and consistent cream. Finally, fold in the ground walnuts for added flavor.
- Helpful tips: If the plums have pits, make sure to remove them before using. To clean dried plums from any residues, use lemon juice – this will prevent your hands from darkening.

4. Assembling the cake:
- After the sheets have cooled, take the first sheet and spread a portion of the cream evenly over it. Then, repeat the process with the second sheet.
- If you opted for my version, place the meringue on the third sheet and decorate as desired. Put the sheet with meringue in the oven for 2-3 minutes until it becomes slightly golden and crispy.
- Let the cake cool for 2 hours in the refrigerator for the flavors to blend perfectly.

5. Serving:
- Cut the cake into squares or triangles and serve it with a vanilla sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious contrast.

### Possible Variations
- You can replace the plums with dried apricots or dates for a different taste experience.
- Add a splash of rum or vanilla extract to the cream for an extra flavor boost.

This dried plum and walnut cake is not just a dessert, but a true declaration of love for your loved ones. Try this simple and quick recipe and let yourself be carried away by its unique taste!