Tuesday, July 24, 2012

A Morning Craving turned into Recipe Success!

Figs are a seasonal gift from Nature. Let's face it...You can roast them, glaze them, stuff them into proteins... stuff them with cheese, dry them, use them as a base for energy bars... Gosh they are food love at it's max!!!! I'll admit it, I'm obsessed ;)


Last holiday season I had a rocking party and served up some Bacon Wrapped Chevre Stuffed Figs and they were a huge hit! (they literally disappeared before our very eyes!)


Well today I woke up with my sweet tooth first. It happens to the best of us, and I'll admit all I wanted something sweet, homemade, delicious.....

So I got up, got ready, and went to the store for groceries and to see what spoke to me ingredient wise. Then suddenly, as if it were meant to be, in movie time slow motion, I found my local market had a killer deal on fresh organic figs!! Oh thank you sale!!!

And then with a double take I noticed that there was only one container left! So i grabbed it as if a mob of shoppers were after it and ran from the scene with crazy in my eyes.... (yesssss!!!)
Fate brought us together on this fine afternoon!!


There I was, zooming around the store wondering just what to make with my new found treasure..... Today just got exciting! A new recipe to create, sample, and photo!

My husband, well I don't think he even know what a fig is, unless you refer him to the famous "Fig Newtons" of our childhood - the go to snack for all parents on the run - he just let it happen. After the many trips he has taken with me to the store he's accepted my impulse buys.... I think this is why he often opts out on my shopping adventures.  Oh well, his loss!

And as for my cats, I was so excited about the figs I bought them presents at the store too... and let's just say they were having as much, if not more, fun as I!

I'm sure in an hour from now this will have tears in it!
She plays fetch for hours with her new mouse (it had feathers.....)
So today I came home, fresh figs on my mind and let the wheels spin. What to make? Should I do preserves or a cobbler? Muffins or a cookie Energy bars??? I wanted cake but should I make cake?

Ohhhh... it hit me!!!! Maybe it was that craving for dessert, or just my sweet tooth whispering to my magical kitchen hands... but suddenly I was grabbing ingredients, whisking up butter, and running around like a mad scientist. It was time for me to make a moist, fluffy and ever amazing
Whole Wheat Organic Fig Cake with a Cinnamon Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting. O.... M..... G..... !!!!!



And so, I have to share this! I can't just hold on to this new recipe and not let you try it out. It would be a sin! So, without further ado, here it is:

Whole Wheat Organic Fig Cake
What You Need:
Cake
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
3 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Ground Cloves
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/4 cups Chopped Fresh Figs (remove the stems for your teeth's sake!)
1 cup Low Fat Half and Half (use buttermilk for a tangy twist!)

Buttercream
4 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1/2 tsp Vanilla

To start, pre-heat the over to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, baking powder and soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix to combine and set aside.


Next, cream together the butter, vanilla, and sugar. Add the eggs while beating on low one at a time. Once combined, add the dry mixture 1/2 cup at a time alternating dry ingredients with the half and half.

The mixture will be thick but have no fear! The baking powder and soda will start to lighten the mixture so take a quick break, and let it sit 1-2 minutes before folding in the fresh chopped figs. If you are a nutty person (well, we are all nuts but you get my drift) walnuts and/ or pecans are an excellent addition. I left the nuts out this time around because my morning craving was looking for a moist and delicate cake sans crunch!

Next, butter up a bundt pan and then coat with a light layer of cinnamon and sugar -- trust me, this is one tip you should try on every sweet bread and cake you make..... it's amazing!

Now that your pan is ready ti make magic, pour the batter into the pan and bake for 60 minutes.

No peeking just trust the oven and the cake to bake! After the hour has passed, remove the cake and let cool completely before removing from pan, about 2 hours.



Now it's time for buttercream! Throughout the baking process, it's helpful to let the butter sit out to soften, though if it's a very hot day don't let the butter sit too long, or you'll have soup. You simply want a softened butter to make the beating go smoothly (that sounds awful!)

Anywho, to make the buttercream, place the butter into your mixer (or beat with hand beaters) and beat about 2 minutes. Next add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Beat until light and fluffy. Finally add the vanilla and cinnamon and beat until smooth and creamy. If you find your buttercream is more of a paste than a cream, add 2 tbsp of cream as you add the powdered sugar, until it is the consistency of a soft but firm paste. I ended up using about 3 tbsp of cream total.


Being a butter based frosting, you will need to use it immediately and then chill it ti firm it up. The bargain bites advice is: Frost now or watch it melt!

And so, with the cake cooled and the frosting ready, frost your cake and store the leftover frosting (if there is any) and you cake in the fridge. It is best to eat within 3 days.... although in my case we ate it much quicker! Yum!

Thanks for stopping by! I had so much fun experimenting and baking up some love with you! The cats are still playing with their new toys (feathers partially eaten) and it's time for me to eat some cake... right Meow!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by BB and baking with me!

14 comments:

  1. I'm ashamed to admit that I have never had figs before in my life. :( But these pix look amazing, especially the cake! :) Thanks for sharing. -Mia

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    1. Don't be ashamed!!! Think of this as an opportunity to get to know the yumminess of figs!!!!!!!!! So glad you could stop by, and I totally hope you experiment soon ;)

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  2. That looks so good! I also have to admit my total inexperience with figs. But now I'll have to try them!

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    1. You def need to experiment soon too! Try dried ones and fresh! Dried figs are awesome for stuffing and make an amazing pastry addition when food processed with cream cheese and some spices! I hope you try them out soon ;)

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  3. Oh my goodness. This looks so delicious! Moist on the inside. Amazing frosting and I love the final touch with the fig slices. A big chapeau to you!

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    1. Thank you sooooo much Ellen! I'll admit I candied those last slices and thought "oh what the heck I'll see how they look on the cake!" lol. This cake WAS so yummy! It would be perfect around the holidays with the spices going on, but for me I think a good spice cake can be enjoyed all year long! ;)

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  4. That cake is gorgeous! and your kitty pictures are making me miss my cats :(

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    1. Thanks Michelle! I'll admit I'm a total cat lady lol! What happened to your cats? I'm so sorry you miss them! Mine both say meow to you!! Thanks for stopping by BB!

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  5. Thanks for posting and sharing such a LUSCIOUS recipe. Actually, I made that many times and I've learned that to my favorite food site, gourmetrecipe . They have lots of exciting and interesting recipes for you to choose from. Not only that, they have lots of recipe videos for you to watch while you are cooking in your kitchen.

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    1. Ohh Jhazmine thanks for sharing! I'll have to check out that site for some inspiration ;). So glad you could stop by Bargain Bites!! Welcome ;)

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  6. I;ve never actually eaten a fig! how bad is that?! This looks so good i might have to go get some. Where do you even get them from? haha :)

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    1. Lol I love this comment;) Dont fret ZI imagine many people haven't had figs! For fresh ones I found them at our local Sunflower Mart which is a chain out west. I bet whole foods would have them... I always just ask "do you have any fresh figs this week?". For Utah the time ti buy is summer, as no stores have fresh figs in winter (at least last winter everyone said they spoiled during shipping which may have been in part due to the lack of winter we all had). Any who dried or not they are great! Hope you get a chance to experiment with them soon ;) thanks for stopping by!!!!!!

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  7. Wow this looks amazing! You are getting tones of new followers great job!

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