fig-ured it out

This fig cake craving was ignited by a recipe my sister in laws, sister in law makes that is so delicious but, I was too embarrassed to ask for the recipe incase I was shot down. So I happen to stumble across one in Food & Wine Magazine's March issue that a Turkish chef picked up from his Scandinavian grandmother's recipes, and let me just say pretty damn close to the inspired version except it involves raspberries! My husband actually likes it more since its a bit crunchier, ha! Better yet, its easy.

Raspberry-and Fig Cake

Active: 20 min; Total: 1 hr  40 min

Makes one 9 - Inch Cake

Dry bread crumbs, for dusting (I didn't do this)

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 stick of butter, melted

Finely grated zest of 3 limes

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Juice of 1 lime

1/2 pint of raspberries

4 figs, cut into eighths (I did additional figs including folded in the batter)

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch spring-form pan and coat with bread crumbs. (I used an 8 inch pan and no bread crumbs). In a bowl, using a hand held mixer, beat the granulated sugar and eggs at high speed until fluffy. 2 minutes. Beat in the butter and two-thirds of the zest. At low speed, alternately beat in the flour and lime juice until almost incorporated. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the batter until smooth (this is where I add extra figs cut into fourths).

2.Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Gently press in the raspberries and figs. Bake the cake on the bottom third of the oven for 40 minutes. Transfer to the upper third of the oven and continue baking for 35 minutes longer, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean with a few crumbs attached.

3.Transfer the cake to a rack to cool. Run a thin knife around the edge and release the spring-form (if you use this). Dust the cake with confectioner sugar and remaining lime zest (I dont do this either I just add extra to the batter). Cut into wedges and serve.

Eet Smakelijk!