Don’t let the simplicity of this recipe fool you. This craveable plum poppy seed cake impresses with understated elegance.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup canola oil or grapeseed oil
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 5 small plums (about 1 pound), sliced
• confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat sugar, eggs and oil until lemon-colored and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in orange zest and vanilla.
2. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; fold into egg mixture. Stir in poppy seeds. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking pan, spreading evenly. Arrange plum slices over batter (do not press into batter).
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and additional cinnamon before serving.