Ever since I perfected my shortcake recipe, I have been really wanting to make them again. Although strawberries are the typical choice they are unfortunately long out of season here in Greece, but our shortcakes are so good we would eat them with any fruit to be completely honest! While cherries were in season I thought about going that route, however, I waited a bit too long and cherries were out of season before I knew it. Then along came our neighbor Dina with a basket full of freshly harvested plums from their orchards. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could do with this beautiful harvest. While I absolutely love plum cakes and tarts, I wanted to do something different. It did not take too much thought before I remembered our shortcakes and that memory soon evolved into making this roasted plum sheet pan shortcake.
First, let’s talk about these plums. These are the local plums that are grown all over our island and they are known as Prunus domestica insititia (common names vary, but Damson is commonly used in English) and are grown all over the Mediterranean, Middle East and beyond. Characterized by their oblong shape, deep indigo skin, and golden flesh; here in Greece they are traditionally dried or turned into jam. I loved the idea of roasting them in the oven with some honey and spices to transform them from their raw golden hue into the brilliant ruby color they become once cooked.
Now, let’s talk about this whole sheet pan shortcake situation. I totally could have made these as traditional individual shortcakes, but again, I wanted to do something different! Which led me to the genius idea from Erin McDowell, to bake the shortcake dough on a half sheet pan. Using this sheet pan method makes serving the shortcakes to a crowd so much easier than traditional shortcakes and the final presentation is oh so glamorous! Don’t you think?!
Some things to consider when making this roasted plum sheet pan shortcake: first, you can use any type of plum or pluot that is in season where you live. Secondly, while all of the components can be made ahead of serving, do keep in mind that once assembled the shortcake will start to absorb moisture from the whipped cream and will become softer over time – so I recommend assembling no more than 1 hour before you intend to serve and to keep it refrigerated until that time.
I could not have been happier with the final result of this roasted plum sheet pan shortcake. The plums were bright and jammy, with a just a touch of spice – and while I used lemon juice to roast them, orange juice would have been just a lovely. The edges of the shortcake were my hubby’s favorite part, while I loved the center slices ;) And if you are wondering who ate all of this shortcake, we sliced it up and brought it to the staff at the restaurant up the path from our studio that let me use their oven to bake the shortcake <3
ROASTED PLUM SHEET PAN SHORTCAKE
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 12-16 slices 1x
Ingredients
FOR THE SHEET PAN SHORTCAKE
- 4 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp fine grain salt
- 2 tbsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup (67g) sugar
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (230g), frozen
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tbsp turbinado sugar for sprinkling
FOR THE ROASTED PLUMS
- about 750g (1 1/2 pounds) plums
- 1/2 cup honey (175g) (or substitute sweetener of your choice)
- juice and zest of 1 medium lemon (or substitute orange)
- 3 small cinnamon sticks
- 5 cardamom pods
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean
FOR THE GREEK YOGURT WHIPPED CREAM
- 3 cups (690g) heavy cream, chilled
- 1 cup (125g) powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup (215g) Greek yogurt
Instructions
FOR THE SHEET PAN SHORTCAKE
- Adjust oven rack to lower middle position; heat oven to 200c/400f degrees.
- Prepare a half sheet pan by greasing it all over with some butter
- Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in medium bowl.
- Using the large holes of a box grater, grate butter into the dry ingredients. Toss butter with flour to coat. Use pastry cutter (or a fork) to finish cutting butter into the flour. Or scoop up coated butter with both hands, then quickly rub butter into dry ingredients with fingertips until most of butter pieces are the size of split peas.
- Mix beaten egg with Greek yogurt & milk; pour into flour mixture. Toss with fork until large clumps form.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and press into an even layer (you can lightly moisten your hands if necessary), the pressed dough should be about 3/4 inch thick.
- Brush dough with heavy cream and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 hours before baking.)
- Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Place baking sheet on wire rack; cool shortcake until room temperature.
FOR THE ROASTED PLUMS
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper, making sure the paper goes up the edges of the pan.
- Quarter your plums and place them in a bowl. Toss the plums with honey, lemon zest & juice, and vanilla extract if using. Pour plums onto the prepared sheet pan and place cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods here and there about the plums.
- Roast the plums for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once, until just softened. Let the plums cool in their syrup, then discard the cinnamon sticks and cardamom. Reserve until serving.
FOR THE GREEK YOGURT WHIPPED CREAM
- Chill a non-reactive, deep bowl and beaters mixer in freezer for at least 20 minutes.
- Add cream to the chilled bowl; sift in powdered sugar and beat on low speed until small bubbles form, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium; continue beating until beaters leave a trail, about 30 seconds more. Increase speed to high; continue beating until cream is smooth, thick, and nearly doubled in volume, about 20 seconds for soft peaks.
- Add in the Greek yogurt and whip for another ten seconds or so, until whipped cream is thick. If necessary, finish beating by hand to adjust consistency. Keep chilled until ready to serve
TO SERVE
- Spoon the chilled Greek yogurt whipped cream evenly on top of the cooled shortcake. Using your spoon to create swoops in the cream.
- Carefully disperse the roasted plums on top of the cream and finish by drizzling the roasted plum juice over the plums.
- Slice and serve – this shortcake is best eaten within the first 2 hours. Any leftovers should be covered and stored in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 0 hours
Looks incredible Bella and just the ticket for all these plums I couldn’t resist from the farmers market xoxo
Aw…thank you so much Katy! It is such a great way to enjoy plums!
This looks incredibly tasty Bella, and I love the addition of Greek yogurt in the shortcake itself and in the whipped cream. Such a perfect summer dessert to feed a small crowd!
Thank you Marilena…using Greek yogurt in unconventional ways has become a way of life for me now! lol! And this is the perfect dessert for a small crowd!
Those roasted plums are gorgeous!!! I love this idea of the sheet pan shortcake, brilliant and great for a dinner party. Can’t wait to make it Bella:)
I can never get over the transformation that plums go through when they are roasted! And I hope everyone your dinner party loves it as much as we did!
HOLY MOLIE these photos are STUNNING bella!!!
can NOT wait to make and eat this recipe for your soon to be famous ROASTED PLUM SHEET PAN SHORTCAKE!!
As i typed that last comment, my mouth started drooling and my stomach started rumbling in anticipation of eating this beauty!!
i can’t stop looking at your cover photo at the top of this ROASTED PLUM SHEET PAN SHORTCAKE!!!
it is pretty unbelievable and remarkable that that humble basket of plums became that glorious pan of ROASTED PLUM SHEET PAN SHORTCAKE!!! amazing talents you’ve been gifted bella!!!
Some of my favorite photos!! I love seeing those plums transform…stunning!
Thank you so much Todd! That means so much to me! Any I agree – the transformation is stunning!
This cake is brilliant! Damson are my absolute favorite plums and they look so perfect as part of this cake. I love everything about this recipe – I’m totally adding it to my long weekend menu plan.
Oh amazing! Thank you Elizabeth! And I think these are the prettiest plums there is! <3