Friday 16 January 2015

Fig and Apple Cake


Are you familiar with figs? I have heard of them but never actually seen one myself. They are my latest discovery. Dried figs, not the fresh ones. They look all wrinkled and whitish and could be mistaken for 'asam boi' at a glance.


I was quite hesitant to try but upon biting into one, ooohhh.... it was so nice! Sweet and chewy and I popped one after another into my mouth. But I had to stop because I was given just a handful and baking with them came to mind.


That was when I searched for a recipe. There are many but I settled on this Apple and Fig Cake because it so happened that I have four apples in the fridge. 



Because I was using dried figs, I boiled them briefly in orange juice just to add moisture. This step may not be necessary but I was just being a fussy old pot.



From previous experience, I knew that this cake would be good due to the apples. The figs were a nice sweet and chewy addition. This cake is dense and very moist. The sweetness was just nice for me. 



It was so moist that my partner complained that it was soggy. It was not soggy to me, just extra moist. Perhaps I had added one apple too many. But I loved it that way.



Oh, here's how the fig looks like when I cut into one.



It's too bad that I couldn't get these type of figs (they are Spanish) when I went looking for them at Cold Storage. There was another variety but it did not look anything like the ones here. By the way, I baked this cake last Christmas. I saved half in the freezer and had some for the last few days. It was still good except that the apples turned mushy. 











Fig and Apple Cake
Recipe source : Adapted from Belleau Kitchen

- 3 eggs
- 140g brown sugar (you many need to add more if you have a sweet tooth)
- 250g butter
- 250g self-raising flour, sifted
- 4 green apples, peeled and shredded
- 100g dried figs, chopped into small pieces
- juice from 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Method :
1. In a saucepan, place chopped figs and orange juice and bring to a boil for about 2 minutes, stirring to prevent burning. Remove from flame and set aside to cool. (I did this to rehydrate the dried figs)
2. Add cinnamon powder to the brown sugar.
3. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition.
5. Using a spatula, fold in flour in 4 additions until just combined.
6. Fold in grated apples.
7. Then fold in figs.
8. Pour batter into a lined and greased loaf pan and bake at 160C for 55 minutes or until skewer inserted into centre of the cake comes out clean.

Note for my own reference : I tented the cake after 40 minutes and my cake was done after 55 minutes.


48 comments:

  1. I bought some from Jaya Grocer. Not sure is it the same or not. It was in a round wheel like packet.

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    1. I must look out for it if I go to Jaya Grocer.

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  2. Fig and Apple Cake!! wow, that sounds interesting and I guess this is the first time I see blogger (I mean from those few baking blogs that I read) do this.. nice!!! :)

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    1. Fig is something new to me but I can't find the same type here :(

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  3. so you are using dried figs and not fresh figs.. I think it's not easy to get fresh ones here also huh?? also if available they would not be cheap.. or probably using the dried ones are better than fresh ones in baking?? hihihi, this Uncle so many questions to ask horr?? paiseh ah~~~ :p

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    1. I read somewhere that the fresh ones are expensive and the taste is not impressive. If like that, this auntie won't buy lah....

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  4. Heard of figs, seen figs, but never eaten one before.. I associate figs with Arabian cuisine, hehe, coz I think I heard of one Arabian restaurant called Figs and something.. Wow your fig and apple cake sound yummy yummy drooly drooly already..I wana have half the cake please!

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    1. Louiz, I think the Middle Easterns also use figs a lot in their cooking/baking. As this is my first time, I hope to try other cakes/dishes that use figs.

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  5. I've never eaten figs but have seen fresh ones in a lot of Jamie Oliver's recipes though...wonder what they taste like ;)

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    1. Me too wondering about the fresh ones :)

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  6. Sigh!!! CNY coming and I still haven't tried baking my own cakes. Think I will just go out and buy this year.

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    1. Ah, just buy, so much easier hee..hee..

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  7. Dear Phong Hong, I have eaten figs before not never like yours. The figs in your picture look so moist and sweet. I am sure your cake tasted yummy.

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    1. Nancy, I have no more figs and I miss them :)

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  8. Never really try fig before or could have eaten it and dunno. hahaha

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    1. Chris, eat and blur blur dono what you eat hah..hah...

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  9. PH, my kids superlove dried figs... but such an expensive indulgence haha! I've never seen these white ones before though, the one i buy usually brown in colour. Fig and apple cake sounds so yummy!

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    1. Yen, I saw the brown ones but dare not buy in case I don't like them as much as the white ones.

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  10. Hi Phong Hong,
    I love fresh figs, but they are very expensive! And guess what, I have a fig tree in my garden, and it is fruiting right now! Yay! Will post about it in my garden blog, when I have the time!
    Your cake looks really moist! Dried figs are not easily available too. I have a pack which I bought from BWY a few months ago for a bake, but it is still "sleeping" in my pantry!

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    1. Joyce, wow you have a fig tree in your garden! I must drop by soon hah..hah...

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  11. I love figs!

    And your cake looks absolutely yummy!

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    1. Thanks, Lina! I miss figs but so kedekut to buy LOL!

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  12. Your cake makes me crave for it, kaka...

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  13. Haha, I'm scared of figs, because I feel the inside is quite "geli" for my sight. I don't know why, it's just one of those funny peeves about me..

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  14. Moist or not moist, they look great to me.. may I have a piece or two?? Now is dessert time.. 3.30pm!! I really like your bakes!

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    1. Thanks, Claire! Would love to share with you!

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  15. I love fresh figs, of course not growing in my country but in the season you can buy here them imported from the south of Europe
    they are delicious:)

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    1. Ola, then I must try the fresh ones but they are expensive over here.

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  16. Phong Hong,
    I used to buy dried figs from medical shop for making soups and desserts. But they are just dried and light milky coffee colour, have not seen whitish ones like yours. Sometimes purchase those cocktail mixed nuts with added dried figs. Like to munch munch.
    Your fig and apple cake definitely looks moist ... yummy too :D

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    1. Karen, I didn't know that they are available at medical shop and used for soups. I have finished my figs and I miss them.

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  17. Hi Phong Hong, figs and apples blend very well in cakes and preserves. Cinnamon gives the cake extra 'Oomph'.

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    1. Kimmy, I love this cake a lot. But I have to limit myself hee..hee..

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  18. What a combination!! I am definitely wanting to try this!

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  19. This one looks good, I have never buy figs before...

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    1. Hayley, hope you get to eat figs one day :)

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  20. Hi my butter cake queen, your butter cake looks buttery and delicious as usual, sedap sedap! :)
    But... now California apple is very scary hor!

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    1. Esther, then must get other varieties. Maybe Fuji apple :)

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  21. You must sell me one of your cakes one day, so delicious! I love to eat both dried and fresh figs.

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    1. Mun, how can I sell? I will give you :)

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  22. I ate dried figs often but yours is the nicest I have seen! Maybe mine came from Middle East and didn't have good crops. This Figs and Apple Cake is a nice combo. I am still wondering when will you open your own bakery or take orders?

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    1. Hmmm...I wish that I have time to take orders hee..hee.. That might happen in future :)

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  23. Hi Phong Hong,
    My kids and I love figs. Dried or fresh they are as yummy. Love to munch on the little little seeds in them. The supermarket over here will only sell dried figs when Hari Raya is around the corner. The price is not cheap too.

    Your apple and fig cake sound like a great combo and they look really moist!
    mui

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    1. mui mui, I want to try fresh figs one day. Hope I can find :)

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