Heavenly Coffee and Fig Fruit Cakes Recipe for Sweet Delights

Sweet mornings often sparkle with unexpected coffee and fig fruit cakes that blend rich Mediterranean flavors into delightful bites.

Rustic ingredients dance together, creating magical textures and aromas that whisper comfort.

Mediterranean bakers have long understood the sublime partnership between deep espresso notes and sweet dried figs.

Carefully selected fruits and carefully ground beans form the heart of this delectable treat.

Subtle nuances emerge from each carefully measured ingredient, promising a sensory adventure.

Warm spices and tender crumb invite you to savor every delicate slice.

One bite promises to transport you straight to sun-drenched orchards with this irresistible confection.

Holiday Flavors People Love in Fig Fruit Cakes

• Celebrate Festive Flavors: Indulge in a unique blend of rich coffee and sweet figs that capture the warmth of holiday baking.
• Effortless Baking Delight: Create impressive mini cakes with simple steps and minimal kitchen skills required, perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.
• Versatile Treat for All Occasions: Enjoy these delectable cakes as a breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or elegant dessert that impresses guests with minimal preparation.
• Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe by experimenting with different liqueurs or adjusting spices to suit your personal taste preferences and create a signature version.

Coffee Fig Fruit Cakes Ingredients

• Dried Figs: Sweet and chewy dried fruits perfect for adding texture.
• Sultanas: Golden raisins that provide natural sweetness.

• All-Purpose Flour: Base ingredient for cake's structure.
• Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Ground Nutmeg: Warm spices that create depth of flavor.
• Bicarbonate of Soda: Helps cakes rise and become fluffy.

• Butter: Provides rich and creamy base for the cakes.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel-like sweetness.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and create structure.
• Treacle: Contributes dark, robust sweetness.
• Instant Coffee, Coffee Liqueur: Enhances overall coffee flavor profile.
• Cooking Oil Spray: Used for greasing the pan.

Cake Preparation for Coffee Fig Fruit Cakes

Step 1: Prepare Baking Equipment

Warm up your oven to 140°C (285°F). Coat a 6-hole festive cakelet pan with cooking oil spray. Place the pan on an oven tray for easy handling.

Step 2: Prepare Dried Fruit

• Figs
• Sultanas

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

Use electric hand beaters to blend butter and brown sugar. Whip on high speed for one minute until the mixture turns slightly pale and creamy.

Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients

Introduce eggs and treacle to the butter mixture. Beat on medium speed until ingredients are just combined.

Step 5: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Remaining flour

Stir gently until approximately half the flour is incorporated.

Step 6: Mix Coffee

Add dissolved coffee to the batter and stir until fully combined.

Step 7: Fold in Dried Fruit

Gently fold the prepared dried fruit mixture into the batter, ensuring even distribution.

Step 8: Fill and Bake Cakes

Spoon one-third cup of batter into each cakelet pan hole. Bake for 50 minutes.

Step 9: Cool and Finish

Allow cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Brush warm cakes with coffee liqueur. Serve immediately or let cool completely before storing.

Step 10: Complete Batch

Repeat steps 8 and 9 with remaining batter to create 12 delightful cakes.

Fruit Cake Tips That Balance Coffee and Fig Elegantly

• Master Coffee and Spice Balance: Use freshly ground coffee for a more robust flavor that complements the sweet figs perfectly.
• Prevent Fruit Sinking: Coat dried fruits lightly in flour before adding to batter, ensuring they remain evenly distributed throughout the cakes.
• Moisture Magic Tip: Adding treacle helps create a rich, moist texture that keeps these mini cakes soft and delectable even after cooling.
• Liqueur Love Hack: Brush warm cakes with coffee liqueur for an extra depth of flavor and a beautiful glossy finish that enhances the overall taste experience.
• Storage Secret: Store cooled cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, allowing flavors to develop and intensify over time.

How To Keep Coffee Fig Fruit Cakes Moist

• Wrap individual cakes tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, keeping their moist texture and rich flavor intact.
• Seal completely cooled cakes in freezer-safe ziplock bags or wrap securely in aluminum foil. Freeze for 2-3 months without losing quality or taste.
• Store in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring they remain fresh and soft. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Warm gently in microwave for 15-20 seconds or place in preheated oven at 140°C for 5-7 minutes. Sprinkle additional coffee liqueur for enhanced moisture and flavor.

What Goes with Coffee and Fig Fruit Cakes

• Pair Perfectly with Espresso Martini: Create a sophisticated cocktail matching the cake's rich coffee notes, blending vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur for an elegant flavor companion.
• Complement with Cream Cheese Frosting: Whip up a smooth, tangy frosting that balances the cake's dense texture and enhances its warm spice profile, adding a luxurious creamy element.
• Match with Aged Port Wine: Select a complex, sweet port wine that mirrors the cake's deep fig and coffee undertones, creating a harmonious dessert experience with complementary dark fruit flavors.
• Serve Alongside Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Scoop a cold, creamy vanilla bean ice cream to contrast the cake's warm spices and provide a cool, smooth counterpoint to its rich texture.

Fig Fruit Cake Options

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace regular flour with almond or coconut flour for a celiac-friendly option. Use gluten-free baking powder to maintain the cake's rise and texture.
• Vegan Alternative: Substitute butter with coconut oil, eggs with mashed banana or flax eggs, and treacle with maple syrup. Use plant-based milk and dairy-free coffee liqueur for a complete vegan transformation.
• Low-Sugar Option: Swap brown sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Reduce overall sugar content by using naturally sweet dried fruits like dates or raisins to maintain moisture and flavor.
• Nut-Infused Variation: Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for extra crunch and nutritional value. Sprinkle toasted nuts on top before baking for additional texture and richness.

FAQs

• Why use figs in these cakes?

Figs add natural sweetness, rich texture, and deep flavor to the cakes. They complement the warm spices and coffee notes, creating a more complex and interesting taste profile.

• Can I substitute the treacle with another ingredient?

Yes, you can replace treacle with honey or golden syrup. These alternatives will provide similar moisture and caramel-like sweetness to the cake batter.

• How important are the spices in this recipe?

The spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg) are crucial. They create a warm, festive flavor that defines the character of these cakes, enhancing the coffee and fig combination with traditional holiday notes.

• What makes the coffee liqueur brushing step significant?

Brushing with coffee liqueur adds an extra layer of moisture and intensifies the coffee flavor. It helps create a more luxurious and sophisticated taste in the final cakes.

Coffee and Fig Fruit Cakes Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Irresistible Coffee and Fig Fruit Cakes bring Mediterranean warmth to your dessert table with rich, complex flavors that dance between sweet and robust. Delicate cake layers infused with espresso and studded with tender figs will transport dessert lovers straight to a sunlit Italian terrace.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1.75 cups plain flour
• 200 grams soft and juicy figs, finely chopped
• 1.25 cups sultanas
• 125 grams butter, softened and chopped
• 2 free-range eggs
• 1 cup CSR dark brown sugar, firmly packed

Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup CSR treacle syrup
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee, dissolved in 1 tablespoon boiling water
• 1 tablespoon coffee-flavored liqueur

Spices and Leavening:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• Cooking oil spray, to grease

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 140°C (285°F) and positioning an oven tray with a greased 6-hole festive cakelet pan.
2. Create a protective flour coating for the figs and sultanas by gently tossing them with a portion of flour in a mixing bowl.
3. Utilize electric hand beaters to blend butter and brown sugar until the mixture transforms into a pale, creamy consistency, then incorporate eggs and treacle with gentle medium-speed mixing.
4. Sift the aromatic spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg) and remaining dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring delicately until the flour is partially integrated.
5. Introduce the dissolved coffee and mix thoroughly to ensure a uniform batter composition.
6. Gently fold the pre-coated dried fruit into the batter, distributing the ingredients evenly throughout the mixture.
7. Carefully portion the batter into each cakelet pan cavity, filling each to approximately ⅓ cup volume, then transfer to the preheated oven for 50 minutes of baking.
8. After baking, allow the cakes to rest in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for cooling.
9. Enhance the flavor profile by brushing the warm cakes with coffee liqueur, serving immediately or allowing complete cooling for storage.
10. Repeat the baking process with remaining batter to complete the full batch of 12 delectable cakes.

Notes

• Perfectly coat dried fruits with flour to prevent sinking during baking and ensure even distribution throughout the cake.
• Use room temperature eggs and butter for smoother blending and better cake texture, helping ingredients incorporate more evenly.
• Lower oven temperature ensures gentle, even baking prevents dry edges while maintaining moist, tender interior of the cakes.
• Coffee liqueur brushing adds extra moisture and intensifies flavor complexity, transforming simple cakes into gourmet-style desserts.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 263
• Sugar: 22g
• Sodium: 105mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 38mg