Upside-Down Fresh Fig Cake

Buster's friend's Note:

Another appealing fig recipe from The Times-Picayune. Our area is full of fig trees - heavy with fruit not yet ripe. Many folks do not even eat their figs anymore! I am glad to help them out!! The article noted that dried figs reconstituted with hot water can be substituted if fresh figs are not available.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 10 fresh figs, stems removed, cut in half
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch cake pan with 2-inch sides. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter the parchment.
2. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and honey until smooth. Pour the sauce into the prepared cake pan. Arrange the figs, cut sides down, in concentric circles over the sauce. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the remaining 8 tablespoons butter with sugar and vanilla until lightened in color and texture, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating until well combined after each. Beating on low speed just until combined after each addition, add dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the milk in 2 parts. Spoon the batter evenly over the figs.
4. Bake the cake until golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool in the pan for 50 minutes.
5. Run a thin knife around the sides of the pan to loosen. Place a serving platter on top of the pan and invert the cake. Gently lift off the pan and remove the parchment paper. Spoon over the cake any of the sauce that has run off, and serve warm.

Reviews

[Chef #336603]

Excellent recipe. The cake turned out beautiful and tasted great. I used Splenda as I am on a very restricted sugar diet. Both my wife and I thought it couldn't be better and couldn't tell sugar had been eliminated. Thanks

[Chef #1382819]

I just made this wonderful cake from figs in my back yard. It is absolutely beautiful to look at, with the pinkish figs, and the shiny syrup-- a work of art, really. AND it tastes so rich and wonderful. I give this an A+

[Aussienana]

Great cake. Delicious served with fresh clotted cream. Cake has a lovely texture. You could use almost any fruit with this cake recipe. Will make often.