Anne's Kitchen What's cooking?!

I figured it’s been a while since I last posted a cake recipe, so I decided to take action. Never mind that it’s gone totally freezing and horrible in the UK and the thought of a warming oven sounds like a very reasonable idea. And oh, that comforting baking smell! I really think that the smell of freshly baked goods has a damn fine psychological effect – it must trigger some kind of happiness pheromones or whatever you call them!

In fact, I once had a housemate asking me to specifically bake when we’d have flat viewings, so that people would get a favourable impression of the premises… And it worked.

Now that I think of it, I have a hunch that I should get together with an estate agency and be paid to bake in flats that are a tough sell. I guarantee that would instantly turn their luck around! Anyone in the housing business reading this? Get in touch! Haha!

Right, so over to this week’s recipe. As you might notice, I’m still in fig land and making the most of their season!

I’ve only ever baked with dried figs – adding them to stollen and fruit loaves, but never actually used fresh figs in a cake. So, I’ve decided to make a very classic buttery cake base but give it a twist by adding orange blossom water to it.

It’s not that far fetched when you think that orange blossom water and figs are both used in Middle Eastern cuisine. And it worked, the combination is really nice. The pungeant perfume of the orange blossom is mellowed down by the buttery cake, and the crunchy texture of the figs’ popping seeds contrasts well with the softness of the cake sponge. A very pleasant recipe indeed! ★

Fig Cakes with Orange Blossom Water

Makes about 7 cupcakes or one loaf

165g butter
165g flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
165g sugar
3 eggs
3 tbsp orange blossom water
4 fresh figs

Preheat the oven to 180° celcius.

In a small saucepan melt the butter over a low heat. Once it’s melted keep it cooking for a bit until it’s turning frothy and slightly brown.

Beat the eggs and the sugar in a bowl. Add the flour, baking powder and orange blossom water. Whilst beating, add the browned butter and work into a smooth dough.

Divide the batter between 7 muffin tins or pour into one loaf tin. Cut each fig into four and stick one fig pieces onto the batter of each muffin.

Bake the muffins for about 30 minutes (if you make a cake bake it for about 50-55 mins) or until golden and a wooden skewer inserted into the muffins comes out clean.