Fig Cake-Egypt #68

Fig Cake- Egypt #68

A moist cake made with buttermilk, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and of course figs, drizzled with a buttermilk-caramel icing.

Ingredients:

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground allspice
1tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. hot water
1 c. canned figs with juice, chopped (I couldn't find these. I substituted fig preserves.)
1 c. chopped pecans

Buttermilk-Caramel Icing:

1 c. sugar
1/2 c. buttermilk,
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 T. corn syrup
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven 350F.  Grease and flour 10 inch tube pan.
2. Sift together flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.  Set aside.
3. Dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda in 2 tsp. hot water, set aside.
4. In a large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer until thick and lemon colored.
5. Beat in 1-1/2 c. sugar and 1 c. oil.
6. Combine buttermilk and dissolved baking soda.
7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture.
8. Stir in 1 tsp. vanilla, figs and nuts.
9. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 70-75 mins.  Remove from pan and pour hot buttermilk icing over warm cake.
10. Buttermilk-Caramel Icing:  
11. In a heavy saucepan, combine 1 c. sugar, 1/2 c. buttermilk, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, corn syrup and butter.
12. Bring to a boil and cook to soft ball stage (240F). 
13. Remove from stove and stir in vanilla.
14. Pour over warm cake.

Results: Unfortunately, after going to 5 stores,I couldn't find the jarred or canned figs. I substituted fig preserves, which worked fine. However, I think if I had used the jarred or canned figs I would have had fig bits throughout the cake, which would have really been good. Oh well.
I had difficulty getting the cake out of the tube pan. It came out in sections. Once you pour the caramel over it it wasn't noticeable.
The nuts really add to the texture and flavor. Be generous with them.
The cake only took 60 mins. to bake.

Bottom Line: A moist delicious cake. My tasters really liked it. They shared it with other people who also said it was really good. One person said it was their favorite so far out of the last 5 cakes. (They're newbies.) I would definitely make this again.

Please share with all those Fig Lovers in your life and anyone who likes cake!