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The German name of these individual German Plum Pastries with Spiced Streusel is Streuseltaler. The translation means “streusel coins”. A yeasted cake cookie base cradles an abundance of streusel crumbs topped with a glaze and/or fruits.
I love making streuseltaler pastries because the flavor combination possibilities are endless. Ingredients are easily switched up in both the filling and the streusel by adding different spices, nuts, and fruits.
When I said goodbye to living full time in Germany over 4 years ago and moved back to the states, a streuseltaler was my farewell pastry. It is still my hello pastry when I return. Incidentally, my recipe for the classic version with and without jam is found here.
As a child, I was obsessed with crumb cake or coffee crumb cake. Only pieces with ridiculously huge crumbs of streusel piled on top made it to my plate. Consequently, this is my favorite German pastry simply because they are huge and topped with tons of streusel and glaze. The streusel to cake ratio is everything.
This fancier riff is a holiday upgrade, a gorgeous fresh plum version with a cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon scented streusel for your holiday dessert table.
Plum Pastries with Spiced Streusel are Easier to make than you think:
Don’t let all the steps to making this pastry freak you out or intimidate you. While the yeasted cookie base is rising, prep the other elements. Use the rise time to make the plum streusel and cut up the plums. When the yeasted cookie base is ready to be rolled out, the rest of the steps go faster. The rise time is just under an hour but the bake time is a very short 13 minutes.
These Plum Pastries with Spiced Streusel is a great make-ahead recipe. When stored in a closed container, they keep fresh for up to 2 days. It is always good to bookmark a timesaver dessert around holiday time.
Plum Pastries with spiced Streusel
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Rise Time 55 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes
Servings 12 pastries
Ingredients
- 4 cups, plus 2+1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 packages of active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract divided
- 2 large eggs
- 2 sticks one cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar light or dark variety
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1+1/2 lbs fresh ripe plums
- 9 ounces plum preserves
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
Make the yeasted cake base:
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In a large bowl, whisk together 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup white granulated sugar and the teaspoon of salt. Make an impression in the middle of the mixture.
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Cut 4 tablespoons of the butter into small pieces.
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Beat one of the eggs lightly in a small bowl.
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Warm the milk over stovetop on a low flame or in the microwave until lukewarm. Stir the yeast into the warm milk.
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When the yeast is bubbling, pour the yeast-milk into the impression in the dry ingredients.
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Add the unsalted butter pieces, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and the lightly beaten egg.
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Knead the ingredients into a smooth dough. Alternately you can use the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook to knead the dough.
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Cover the bowl with a dishcloth and let stand in a warm place for 45 minutes.
Make the spiced streusel:
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In a separate bowl whisk together the remaining 2 + 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom powders, and salt.
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Whisk in the firmly packed brown sugar.
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Cut the remaining one stick (half a cup) plus four tablespoons unsalted butter in pieces and add to the bowl.
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Add the remaining teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
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Beat the remaining egg slightly and add it to the other ingredients in the bowl.
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Rub the mixture between your hands or use a fork to mix the ingredients together to form a streusel.
Assemble the pastries:
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Wash the fresh plums and pat dry.
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Halve the plums, cut out the pits and cut each half into wedges.
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Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Remove the yeasted dough from its warm place.
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Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured workspace and knead for 3-5 minutes.
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Roll out the dough and use a 4 inch round cutter to create circles and lay the circles down on the lined baking sheets.
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Use a pastry brush to coat each dough circles with plum jam leaving a small frame around the edge of a bit less than 1/2 an inch.
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Arrange the fresh plum slices over the top of the jam on each dough circle.
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Divide the streusel evenly over the plum pieces. Let the pastries stand for 10 minutes.
Bake and Finish:
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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Bake the pastries for 12-14 minutes, until the streusel and the edges of the pastries turn golden brown.
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Remove from oven and use a spatula to immediately transfer the pastries to a cooling rack.
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When cooled, sprinkle each plum pastry with powdered sugar. Arrange on a decorative platter and serve.
