Šljivopita (Serbian Plum Crumble Pie)
Šljivopita is a beloved Serbian dessert featuring a buttery crumble crust filled with juicy, sweet plums. This comforting cake is reminiscent of an American crumble cake and is perfect served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
🧂 Ingredients
- 226 g Butter(room temperature, divided)
- 200 g Sugar(divided)
- 650 g All-purpose flour(plus more for dusting)
- 2 tbsp Vanilla sugar(or 1 tsp vanilla extract + 1 tbsp sugar)
- 1 tbsp Baking powder
- 60 ml Milk
- 2 Large eggs
- 6-8 large Plums(halved, pitted, and quartered (about 1 kg))
- for dusting Powdered sugar
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 12.5-inch (31.75 cm) round baking pan with parchment paper.
💡 Tip: Any shape or size pan can be used; a smaller pan will result in a taller cake. - 2
Prepare the plum filling: Place the halved, pitted, and quartered plums in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of vanilla sugar (or vanilla extract and 1 tbsp sugar). Mix to coat the plums and set aside.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Make the crumble crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine 166g of the butter (reserve the remaining 60g for later), the remaining sugar, flour, baking powder, and 1 tbsp of vanilla sugar. Using your hands, mix the ingredients until they form a coarse crumble mixture. Do not knead into a ball.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Divide the crumble mixture in half. Press one half evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
💡 Tip: Use your fingers to press the crumble mixture firmly. - 5
Arrange the prepared plums evenly over the crust. Drizzle any accumulated juice from the plums over the top.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 6
Crumble the remaining half of the mixture over the plums, covering them as much as possible. Lightly press down to help the crumble adhere to the plums.
💡 Tip: Break up any large clumps of dough into smaller pieces. - 7
Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the plums are tender and bubbly.
⏱️ 40 minutes💡 Tip: Baking time may vary depending on your oven. - 8
Let the cake cool slightly in the pan before slicing. Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar.
💡 Tip: Delicious served with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the butter is at room temperature for the best crumble texture.
- ✓If plums are very tart, you can increase the sugar slightly.
- ✓This cake can be made ahead and stored at room temperature for a day or two.
🔄 Variations
- Use apricots or peaches instead of plums when in season.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon to the crumble mixture for extra spice.