Serious Eats - seriouseats.com
Rosemary, Honey, and Fig Cake
NOTES:
- Pulsing the sugar with orange zest in the food processor releases its oils and makes for a more fragrant cake. If not using food processor, chop the grated zest, as well as the rosemary.
About the author: María del Mar Sacasa is a recipe developer, food stylist, and author of the food blogs High Heels & Frijoles and Cookin' and Shootin'.
Behind her girly façade lurks a truck driver's appetite. Read about her cravings and suffer through her rants on Twitter @HHandFrijoles and see her constant stream of food images on Instagram: mdmsacasa
About This Recipe
| Yield: | Serves 8 to 10 |
| Active time: | 30 minutes |
| Total time: | 2 hours, 15 minutes |
| Special equipment: | 9-inch round springform pan, food processor, electric mixer, rubber spatula, cooling rack, large skillet, serrated knife |
| This recipe appears in: | Let Them Eat: Rosemary, Honey, and Fig Cake |
Ingredients
- For the Cake
- Baking spray
- 2 1/2 cups (about 12 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (about 5 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons grated zest from 1 orange
- 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup milk, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- For the Figs
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter
- 12 figs, stems trimmed and quartered lengthwise
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup honey
Procedures
-
1
For the Cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 9-inch round springform pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Pulse sugar, rosemary, and orange zest in food processor until no zest strands remain and rosemary is coarsely chopped (see note above).
-
2
In large bowl, beat butter, oil, and rosemary-lemon sugar on medium speed until light, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add honey and beat just until incorporated.
-
3
Decrease mixer speed to low and add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with milk. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula as needed. Increase speed to medium and beat mixture just until combined, 20 to 30 seconds. Add vanilla and beat once more, just to combine, about 10 seconds.
-
4
Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake until cake tester inserted in cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating cake halfway through baking. Transfer cake to cooling rack set inside baking sheet and cool in pan 10 minutes.
-
5
Release springform and invert cake onto cooling rack; remove bottom of springform. Invert cake once again and cool completely, about 1 hour.
-
6
For the Figs and Assembly: Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat and cook until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add figs and season with salt and pepper. Cook until figs soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in honey and remove from heat.
-
7
With a serrated knife, slice about 1/8 inch off top of cake. Spoon figs and any released juices on top of cake. Serve.