Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tuesdays with Dorie- Nectarine Dimply Cake and Peach Dimply Cake with Lemon Zest and Fresh Basil

Nectarine Dimply Cake

Peach Dimply Cake- notice the beautiful basil
Peach and Nectarine side by side


Peach bite and Nectarine piece
I made the Plum Dimply Cake back in May for myself on Mother's Day. I couldn't resist. If you have seen the picture of it in the book, you will probably know what I am talking about, if you like plums. Plums are one of my favorite fruits and I had no idea if anyone was going to pick it anytime soon, for Tuesdays' with Dorie. Michelle of Bake-en must have felt the same way I did, because she picked it for this week's recipe. Go to her blog for the recipe or the link from my blog noted earlier in this post.

The great thing about having previously made this, was I knew exactly what fruit I wanted to use and I knew what not to do- Do not overload this cake with too much fruit! It will fall apart!

I decided to use Nectarines and Peaches because we have a million of them from the trees in the backyard. I made 2 cakes, the Nectarine with orange zest and cardamom and the Peach with lemon zest and basil. (Dorie's suggestions in the Playing around section of this recipe). I also did not use entire halves of either fruit. I sliced them and then fit as many slices as I could on top of either cake.

They both came out tasting wonderfully delicious. The Nectarine cake was a tad bit sweeter but the Peach was my favorite. They both disappeared. This was one tasty breakfast!

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

i think the key to this is to use slices rather than halves, like you did. did you like it with the fresh basil?

Sarah said...

Wow...you got your peaches and nectarines from your backyard? I am SO jealous! Your cakes look great!

vibi said...

I wish mine turned out to be (or at least look) as moist as yours... then again with ripe, juicy fruits from your backyard, you are lucky to achieve such perfection!

Prudy said...

Mary Ann-Why is it that everything always looks just a little bit more wonderful over here???
I'm trying to get up your way over the next couple weeks to go apple picking in Sandy. If I can get there you have to meet me-although with nectarines and peaches in your backyard, why would you want to go anwhere at all???

Alexa said...

I would love to have fruit trees in my backyard. I have the neighbor's rotting apples which fall methodically on my side of the fence... Does that count?
This cake looks lovely!

Maria said...

You are lucky to have the fruit right in your backyard! Your cake is gorgeous. I love the changes you made. The lemon and basil sound great!

27Susans said...

I love your pictures & recipe ideas. I joined TWD recently and will bake the dimply tart today - with peaches from a friend's tree. I hope my cake comes out as good as yours. I've got lots of plums too, but how many cakes can I eat?

CB said...

Backyard stone fruit! How awesome. Glad you tried the basil variation. I was wondering how it would taste. Great job!
Clara @ iheartfood4thought

marae said...

yum your cakes look so good...the crumb looks quite flakey! i used white wheat flour which made mine a little dense but more hearty.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Oh, Mary Ann, I have a serious case of cake lust after seeing your pictures. You worked out the recipe to perfection. The peach was good, but I love the cardamom in the plum version. For Fall I want to use sliced apples. Yum, love, love, love this cake.
Nancy

Susan @ SGCC said...

Oh boy! Your cake looks fantastic! Just beautiful! I used nectarines too.

Marie Rayner said...

Your cakes look wonderful Mary Ann!! I may give a peach version a try the next time. I absolutely loved this recipe!

Engineer Baker said...

I love the look of both variations, but I'm definitely loving the basil in there - it just perks everything up.

The Blonde Duck said...

It looks tasty! That's some bounty.

Aggie said...

I love how you got creative with flavors in the cakes! They both look fantastic! Can you send me some peaches from your trees?? : )

chocolatechic said...

Both of them look gorgeous.

La Bella Cooks said...

What a great idea with the use of basil! I think I like the use of nectarines much better than the plums. I thought this cake smelled wonderful while baking. I'm jealous you got your peaches and nectarines from your own backyard!!

Anne said...

It looks wonderful with the basil! I bet it was the perfect breakfast. Great job!

Shelby said...

Your cake looks awesome, I love you can see the basil!

steph- whisk/spoon said...

peaches and nectarines are the color of sunshine--lovely! good idea to cut the fruit smaller...no gooey, unbaked batter that way!

Jenny said...

Really pretty! I am loving that there is basil inside, I bet it's killer! Great pics!

Steph said...

Our cakes do look identical except your pictures are definitely better. I wish I added as much fruit as you did (just enough, but not to the point where rawness might be a problem).

Did you enjoy the peach version because it was sweeter or did it have to do with the basil or maybe even the cardamon? Too many variables!

Jayne said...

Those are beautiful!! And I'm jealous - nectarines and peaches in your back yard! Heavenly.

Pamela said...

I love that you can see the flecks of basil in the Peach cake. I'm impressed that you made both versions. Great job! The cherry and lime was really good!

The Food Librarian said...

These look great. I can't wait to try the lemon and basil combination. Lucky you have fruit trees in your backyard!!

Cathy said...

Your pictures are truly gorgeous, and how wonderful that you have peaches and nectarines in your own backyard! It doesn't get any better than that! It is so fun to read side-by-side comparisons of both versions!

Christine said...

Lucky you to be able to get all that fruit from your backyard! Your pics and cakes look great!

Anonymous said...

Those cakes are beautiful and I am jealous you have so much fruit in your backyard. We have weeds.

Unrelated, but I made those PB&J Power Muffins from the weekly lunchbox post. I put them in the kids' lunches today so no reaction from them yet. I, however, have eaten four. Thanks!

hoagiefest 2020 said...

True--too much fruit will make it "cake-covered fruit," and not a fruit-filled cake. Way to go with the extra-local produce, and with the awesome finished product.

Di said...

Yum--peach and nectarines both sound wonderful!

Sihan said...

i love your backyard. sounds like some magical garden full of fruits. Lucky lady! and finally i see someone with the lemon basil combination. Been meaning to try it. and judging from your reviews. these must be pretty good!