Gluten Free Upside-Down Cake with Fresh Plums

Summer is in full swing, and there is nothing better after a hot day than to relax with a piece of delicious gluten free upside-down cake! It’s sweet with plump plums and a moist tender cake. Serve it at parties, barbecues, and potlucks, and it will disappear quickly!

You are going to fall in love with every bite of these ripe plums. They add so much flavor and go perfectly with the sugary sweet cake. If you love desserts as much as we do, don't forget to check out all of my delicious gluten free dessert recipes.

A whole gluten free plum upside down cake on a big plate

Click for Table of Contents:

Optional tips
Instructions:
How many plums does this recipe call for?
📋 Recipe

Our plum tree has been producing an abundance of ripe, juicy plums this summer! We are super excited because in the past the squirrels get to them before we get to enjoy any fruit. So not only am I really excited to share some awesome plum recipes, I am even more excited to eat them.

When baking gluten free, there can be a bit of a learning curve in the beginning. Don’t let that scare you because once you get the hang of it, you will be making the most amazing baked goods and recipes. Take a look at How To Eat Gluten Free Anywhere + Gluten Free Diet Tips to help you out.

Our little plum tree is in a happy spot in our backyard. This is just a few branches because our tree grew like crazy in just a few months. I am going to have to prune it a lot in January because the branches are really thin and tall.

One of the things I love about this cake is that it is also dairy-free, and there is a nut-free option as well so it is great for those with food allergies.

Are you ready to make this cake? Please know if you don't have fresh plums, there are so many other fruits you can substitute!!

a gluten free plum upside down cake on a platter — This is the cake with the tiny plums from our tree.

Optional tips

This gluten free upside-down cake is really versatile. You can trade out the plums for other fruits if you want. Here are some ideas to try:

Pears
Apples
Pineapple
Peaches
Strawberries

Instructions:

Add all of your dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend.

I have tested three gluten free flour blends in this recipe. I liked King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend. This doesn't mean other blends won't work, I just haven't tested any others. Try to avoid flour blends that are high in starch.

As always, if your blend does not contain Xanthan Gum, you will need to add 1 teaspoon.

Now, add your wet ingredients to the bowl and whisk.

the wet ingredients poured over the dry ingredients in the bowl

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix.

This is what your gluten free cake batter will look like. Now to prep the plums and pan. Cut your plums in half, remove the seed.

How many plums does this recipe call for?

How many plums you use will depend on the size of your plums. Our plums are tiny so I need to use a lot more. Store-bought plums tend to be a lot larger and so you will need fewer to cover the bottom of the pan.

plum halves on the bottom of a springform pan

I used a springform pan for this recipe but you can use any cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. This will help you when it comes time to remove your cake from the pan.

cake batter over the plums in the springform pan

Pour the cake batter over the plums and spread it around to evenly cover the plums. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

When the cake is baked, remove it from the oven. I loosened the sides of the springform pan to allow it to cool faster. Next, put a plate over the top of the cake and flipped the cake over.

Remove the bottom of the springform pan, then slowly (very slowly!) peel off the parchment paper. *Optional dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Recipe FAQ:

What is an upside-down cake?

Basically, an upside-down cake is when the cake itself is baked on the bottom of a baking pan and then a layer of fruit is on top. When it’s time to serve the upside-down cake, you usually flip it so the cake is on top, and the fruit is on the bottom.

How do you now when the cake is done baking?

You will know when this gluten free upside-down cake is done when you insert a toothpick in the center, and it comes out clean. As the cake bakes, you will notice the sides start coming away from the pan as well.

Do I need to refrigerate cake?

Yes! Most upside-down cake recipes should be refrigerated after they have completely cooled. This cake is very moist due to the plum juice so you must refrigerate it.

The cake will last around 3 days in the fridge. If you prefer it to be warm, you can always toss it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Can I freeze upside-down cake?

Yes, you can freeze this plum cake recipe. After it has cooled entirely, wrap it with plastic wrap or tin foil. Then place in an airtight container and put in the freezer it will last around 1 month.

Can you make this cake nut-free?

You can make this cake nut-free by omitting the almond flour and adding an additional 1/2 cup of gluten free flour blend.

two slices of plum upside down cake on plates

If you love this gluten free plum cake, then you should try some of my other gluten free cakes. Here are more of my favorite cakes:

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