Chef Dustin Valette's Simple Almond Cake with Prunes - California Prunes

Ingredients

• 2 cups California Prunes (sliced in half)
• 3 TBSP sugar (divided)
• 4 oz unsalted butter (at room temp)
• 4 oz powdered sugar
• 4 oz almond paste
• ½ orange (zested)
• ½ vanilla bean (scraped, seeds only)
• 3 eggs
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• Pinch kosher salt
• ½ cup California Prunes (about 12, finely chopped)
• 1 orange (juiced (about ½ a cup))
• 1 TBSP sugar
• ¼ vanilla bean
• 1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
• ⅔ cup crème frâiche
• 1 TBSP powdered sugar
• ¼ vanilla bean (scraped, seeds only)
• orange zest for garnish
• sliced almonds for garnish (optional)