Fresh Fig Cake Recipe with Crumb Topping

This Fresh Fig Cake Recipe with Crumb Topping is so delicious and perfect for entertaining in the late summer when figs are in season. 

This is one of my favorite brunch recipes because the cake is so light and delicate and can also be made with pears or sliced apples in the fall. It’s also great for tea time too!  

It’s worth noting that this cake is absolutely beautiful when it’s sitting on a pretty cake stand. This is thanks to its high edges which are achieved by baking it in a cheesecake pan.

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Here’s How to Make a Delicious Fresh Fig Cake

Step 1: Make the Cake Batter

Start by coating your pan, even around the edges, with baking spray.

For the batter, you’ll add the eggs, vegetable oil, brown and white sugar, water and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients up until well-combined, then set aside.

 Can you use oil instead of butter in baking?

You could use melted butter in this recipe, but I find the secret to an extra moist cake that keeps its texture after a few days, is vegetable oil. It’s a pure fat that doesn’t contain water, like butter, which allows it to create a very soft and delicate crumb. 

Then, in a smaller bowl, add the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cardamon.

The secret ingredient in this cake is the cardamon. It’s a wonderful warming spice that is a great flavor combination against the figs. If you can’t find cardamon, you could also use pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. 

Now, add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and gently whisk. Be careful not to over-mix so the cake remains nice and light.

Then, I like to add roughly chopped candied ginger and stir.

Candied ginger is also known sometimes as crystallized ginger. You can find it in your spice aisle or at a health food store.

Pour the batter into your cheesecake pan, and set aside.

Step 2: Add the Figs

Now that our batter is made and in the pan, it’s time to add the figs.

I use black mission figs, which you can find in just about any supermarket. If figs are hard to come by, you could also use sliced apples or pears. You can’t go wrong with any of those choices!

How do you use figs in recipes?

To prepare the figs, cut off the stems and slice each fig lengthwise into thin pieces. There is no need to peel the figs as the outer skin is edible.

After you add the figs, set this aside while you make the crumble.

Step 3: Make the Crumble Topping

This crumble is super easy to put together. In a small bowl, add the flour, baking powder, brown and white sugar and cinnamon. 

Whisk up the dry ingredients and then add the melted butter.  Combine the mixture using a small fork or whisk. Then, you will see a beautiful crumble beginning to form.

Then, add roughly chopped walnuts and stir.

Sprinkle the crumble over the top of the cake. Making sure it’s well covered. Then place your cake in a 350F (175C) degree oven for about 55-60 minutes.

I know this seems like a long time to bake the cake, but because there is a lot of batter going into that deep pan it takes a little longer than the typical half hour to bake a cake. This will allow the cake time for it to rise and bake all the way through. 

After you pull the cake from the oven, take a sharp knife and run it around the perimeter of the cake to loosen any of the baked fig that might have stuck to the side.

Then, when you release the spring form, the cake will be a perfectly round and beautiful shape! Then place it on your cake stand and serve!

TIP: To remove your cake from the bottom of the cheesecake pan, you can use this handy gadget called a cake lifter it’s fabulous for transporting all kinds of cakes to your cake stand or cooling rack. (this link goes to Amazon where I am compensated on products sold at no cost to the consumer)

Let me know what fruit you decided on in the comments! Did you go with the figs, or did you try the pears, or the apples?

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Fresh Fig Cake with Crumb Topping

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

A Fresh Fig Cake Recipe with Crumb Topping is perfect for fall brunches or tea time.

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Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup (240ml) of vegetable oil
• ½ cup (100g) sugar
• ½ cup(90g) light brown sugar
• ½ cup (120ml) water
• 1 ½ tsp (7.5ml) vanilla extract
• 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp (10ml) baking powder
• ¾ tsp (3.75ml) salt
• 1 ¼ tsp (6.75ml) ground cardamom
• 1/3 cup (50g) crystalized ginger, diced
• 5-10 fresh figs (depending on size) sliced vertically (or sliced pears or sliced apples would be great too!)

Crumble

• ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp (2.5ml) baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp (25g) white sugar
• 2 tbsp (23g) brown sugar
• ¼ tsp (1.25ml) cinnamon
• 5 tbsp (75ml) melted butter
• 1/2 cup (75g) chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C)
2. Spray a 9” cheesecake pan with baking spray and set aside.
3. In a large bowl combine eggs, oil, sugars, water and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine and set aside.
4. In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom. Whisk to combine.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk slowly to combine. Stir in the candied ginger.
6. Pour cake batter into pan, arrange figs cut side up, in a circle around the cake. Set aside.
7. To make crumble, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugars and cinnamon until combined. Add the melted butter and stir with a fork until a crumble forms. Then stir in the walnuts.
8. Sprinkle crumble on top of figs and cake, evenly distributed.
9. Bake cake for 50 mins-1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean. If top starts to brown too quickly cover with foil until fully baked through. Allow to cool and serve for tea time or for Sunday brunch!
   
   

Notes

If figs are not available, pears or apples will work as well.

This cake reheats beautifully! Just wrap tightly in foil and refrigerate, then place in oven (covered in the foil) and bake at 350F for 20 mins or until warmed through.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 172Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 67mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g