Spiced Fig Cake — fig and warm-spice loaf
Spiced fig cake is a moist American loaf cake studded with chopped dried figs, perfumed with cinnamon, ginger and clove. It is autumn cake — designed for the cooling weather when fresh figs are out of season but dried figs are abundant.
i. Origin & history
Fig-spice cakes have been baked across America for over a century. The spiced fig cake is the close cousin of the British spiced date cake and the Middle Eastern fig-spice loaves.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 10 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 300 g dried figs, chopped
- 250 ml hot water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 150 g unsalted butter, soft
- 200 g muscovado sugar
- 3 eggs
- 300 g plain flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- ½ tsp clove
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- Pinch salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 100 g chopped walnuts
iii. Method
- Soak figs in hot water with baking soda 15 min.
- Heat oven to 170 °C. Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs.
- Fold in flour, spices, salt, baking powder. Stir in figs (with their water) and walnuts.
- Bake in a 1 kg loaf tin for 60-65 min.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Fig and walnut cake is the close Mediterranean cousin. Spiced date cake is the date version.
vi. Common questions
What is spiced fig cake?
Spiced Fig Cake is fig and warm-spice loaf, from north american cuisine. It is autumn cake — designed for the cooling weather when fresh figs are out of season but dried figs are abundant
Where is spiced fig cake from?
Spiced Fig Cake is from the north american dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does spiced fig cake keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 5 days at room temperature.