Chocolate Fig Honey Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE FIG LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9X5 loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving 1-2" overhang on the long sides. Set aside.
• Sift flours, baking powder, dutch process cocoa powder, espresso powder and salt into a mixing bowl. Whisk together until well combined. Set aside.
• Toss the chopped fresh figs with 2 tsp flour
• Using electric beaters or a stand mixer with whisk attachment, beat the butter and oil together on medium speed until smooth and well combined, about 3-4 minutes. Turn down to low, stream in sugar. Once fully added, turn speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Scrape sidesAdd eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed about 20 seconds before adding the next egg. Add vanilla, beating on low until well combined. Scrape sides Beat all ingredients on medium low for an addtional minute.
• By hand, sift in the dry ingredients to the wet, alternating with the milk, starting/ending with the dry ingredients: dry, milk, dry, milk, dry. Stir each addtional until just combined. Gently fold in the flour coated chopped figs. Pour 1/2 chocolate cake batter into the prepared loaf pan. Using a small offset spatula or back of a spoon, evenly spread the batter into the corners. Pour remaining 1/2 batter into the pan. Evenly spread the batter into the pan.
• Bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes. Check the bread around 45 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center. If the batter is wet, bake in 5 minute increments, checking each time by inserting a toothpick into the center (close to the center, but not the same part each time). When the toothpick comes out clean and the edges are slighly pulled from the sides, the bread is done. Cool in the pan, on top of a cooling rack for 15 minutes. Using a butter knife, gently loosen the unlined edges from the pan. Gently lift the bread out of the loaf pan using the pieces of parchment overhang. Cool an addtional 45 minutes before topping with the ganache. ***The kind of pan used changes the baking times and outcome of the final cake. This recipe was tested using a light color, aluminum loaf pan.
• Evenly chop chocolate into small pieces. Place in a wide, shallow bowl.
• Heat milk in a sauce pan until just scalding. This can also be done in the microwave, using a heat proof bowl in 30 second increments.
• Pour the steaming milk on top of the chocolate pieces. Let sit for 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and salt. Whisk together until smooth and well combined. Let sit for 5 minutes before pouring onto the cooled chocolate loaf cakeOnce on the cake, let sit for 10 minutes to slighly set. Top with fresh figs and almond slices.

WARM FIG AND CHOCOLATE SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/190 degrees Celsius.
• Add 1/4 cup/50 grams sugar to a small, oven-proof, high-sided sauté pan with a 6-inch/15-centimeter base (or similar). Cook over medium-high heat, swirling the pan a few times, until the sugar has melted and turned a dark caramel color, 5 to 8 minutes. Carefully add the rum - it will spit and seize up a little - and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring until combined and thick. Remove from the heat, stir in the orange juice and figs, and set aside to cool.
• Add the egg yolks to a medium bowl along with 2 tablespoons/25 grams sugar. Whisk by hand until pale and thick, about 3 minutes. Add the cream, flour, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt and orange zest, then whisk until smooth and thick.
• In another medium bowl, using a clean whisk, whisk the egg whites by hand with the remaining 2 tablespoons/25 grams sugar until they form stiff peaks, 4 to 5 minutes. Fold gently into the yolk batter, then pour the mixture over the figs in the sauté pan (it should cover the figs completely).
• Sprinkle all over with the chocolate and bake until the batter rises and is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, divide among four bowls and drizzle with any remaining liquid from the pan. Serve hot, with some crème fraîche alongside.

CHOCOLATE FIG HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the honey just to a boil; remove from the heat.
• Stir in the tea and grated lemon rind; set pan aside and let cool slightly.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, allspice and salt; stir in the figs.
• Set the bowl aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs until pale and frothy, about 5 minutes.
• Beat in the oil and vanilla.
• Beat in the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, until slightly thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
• Alternately fold in the flour and honey mixtures, making 3 additions of flour and 2 of honey, to make a thin batter.
• Pour the batter into a greased 10" Bundt pan.
• Bake in the centre of a 325 degree F oven for 60 to 70 minutes or until the cake tester inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes.
• With a knife, loosen the edges of the cake; turn out onto a rack and let cool completely.
• For the drizzle, melt the chocolate over hot (not boiling) water.
• Dip the tines of a fork into the chocolate; drizzle over the cake.

FRESH-FIG CAKE WITH HONEY CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 10-inch cake pan (or two 9-inch pans), and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, baking soda and salt.
• Using an electric mixer, whisk to combine sugar and eggs until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Whisk in oil and buttermilk or yogurt to combine.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold dry ingredients into egg mixture just until combined. Fold in figs, jam and pecans.
• Scrape into prepared cake pan and bake until browned and springy to the touch, about 65 to 75 minutes (or 35 to 45 minutes for the 9-inch pans). If the top gets too dark before the cake is finished baking, cover it with foil. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• While cake is cooling, make the frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat butter, cream cheese and salt on low speed until smooth. Beat in honey and vanilla, then beat in confectioners' sugar.
• To assemble the cake, remove cooled cake from pan and peel off parchment paper. Slice cake in half horizontally, so you end up with 2 layers. (You don't need to do this for the 9-inch cakes.) Spread half the frosting between the layers, sandwiching it. Dollop remaining frosting in a thick layer on top of the cake, leaving a 1-inch border on the top of the cake, the sides, bare. Chill until ready to serve. Just before serving, top with sliced figs.