Plum Cake: A Sweet nutty Dilemma
When it comes to cakes, plum cake has always been at the bottom of my list. It’s not that I despise it, in fact it does carry a unique charm but it’s simply not my first choice. My heart skips a beat for moist marble cakes, their delicate swirls of vanilla and chocolate blending into perfection. Yet, every December, when I’m in Kerala, the reality is far from what I crave.
December in Kerala means one thing in the cake world: plum cake. It arrives in abundance, filling homes with the rich aroma of dried fruits soaked in rum, spices, and caramelized sugar. Plum cakes are synonymous with the festive spirit, a dessert staple that evokes nostalgia and tradition. The moment someone walks in with a cake box, I secretly wish for marble cake but prepare myself for the inevitable slice of plum.
Despite my preferences, plum cake has a special place in my heart because of the memories it carries. It reminds me of my grandparents — their warm smiles, gentle laughs, and the joy they found in small moments like cutting a cake during Christmas. My grandfather would always have a piece with his evening tea, savoring it like it was the best dessert in the world. My grandmother, on the other hand, had this way of serving it with so much love that it made even the most reluctant eater take a bite.
Maybe it’s that association with my grandparents that makes me reach for a slice, even when my taste buds yearn for something else. It’s not just a cake; it’s a connection to simpler times, to family traditions, and to the people who made my childhood so warm and magical.
So, while I might still secretly wish for someone to bring me a marble cake, I’ve learned to appreciate the plum cake for what it truly is: a symbol of love, nostalgia, and the essence of December in Kerala. And perhaps, that makes it sweeter than any marble cake could ever be.
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