Plum Kuchen Kuchen is an old-fashioned dessert that also doubles as a coffee cake. This one is more the former than the latter, but it would go nicely with afternoon tea. Makes 6 servings.
	Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch kosher salt 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces 1 egg 1/2 cup buttermilk or skim milk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Butter-flavored cooking spray 1/4 cup sliced almonds 1 pound Dinosaur Egg pluot plums 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/3 cup spicy plum jam from Crepes with Spicy Plum Jam, or purchased plum jam
	Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add butter with a pastry blender or large fork until texture resembles coarse meal. 2. Combine egg with buttermilk and vanilla extract. Stir into flour mixture and mix just until combined. Spread into the bottom of an 8x8x2-inch pan sprayed with butter-flavored spray. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. 3. Halve plums lengthwise and cut each half into 4 slices. Arrange plum slices on batter in rows. Spray with butter-flavored spray. Mix cinnamon with remaining tablespoon of sugar and sprinkle onto plums. Bake in the middle of the oven 30 minutes or until plums are tender. 4. Meanwhile, prepare glaze by heating plum jam in a small pan or in a microwave oven until it begins to boil. Brush on top of kuchen when it comes out of the oven. Serve warm or at room temperature. Cooking Tip This dish can also be made in an equivalent size round cake pan. If using a round pan you can make a ring or circle pattern with the plums. Peaches and nectarines would also make a good kuchen.

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