Friends who give a fig..

Chocolate Yoghurt Cake and Figs

(Chocolate yoghurt cake with sticky caramel figs)

A few days ago, a high school friend sent me an email. She was out of town, her fig tree was heavy with fruit, and did I want to go pick some before the birds got to them? It took me all of two seconds to say, heck yes. I mean, free fruit.. who (except the sugar deniers) would say no? Plus, I happen to also own a potted fig tree and it has all of two leaves left hanging for dear life on a singular branch. Sometimes I feel that branch is pointing accusingly at me for not being a better amateur gardener. Naturally, I wanted to see this bountiful tree of hers.

So now I have a small basket of doesn’t-get-fresher-than-this figs and have been experimenting with different ways of using them. A few were sliced, rolled in sugar, kissed with a blow torch, and served with a sort of Eton Mess. If you don’t have a blow torch because somehow Amelie and the whole creme brulee craze remains a complete mystery to you, then here’s another amazing way to treat figs : Melt a few spoonfuls of sugar in a sauce pan and heat to make a golden caramel. Toss in fig halves, stir gently to coat them in the caramel, then deglaze with Banyuls or balsamic vinegar to form a bit of a sauce. The whole process takes just a few minutes and the end result is sweet and slightly sour figs you can spoon over ice-cream, or serve with a simple chocolate cake such as this one.

Chocolate Yoghurt Cake with Figs

This chocolate cake is a take on Tartine’s devil’s food cake, made with yoghurt instead of buttermilk. It’s one of my favourites because it has the depth of flavour of a chocolate fudge cake without being dense or stodgy.

Chocolate Yoghurt Cake

Chocolate Yoghurt Cake :

115g unsalted butter, softened
235g caster sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 eggs
100g Greek yoghurt
60g milk
125g plain flour
30g cornflour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
60g cocoa powder

Grease and line a 9″ round baking tin. Preheat the oven to 175’C.

Cream the butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until completely incorporated. Combine the yoghurt and milk and add this to the butter mixture. Sift in the flour, cornflour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa powder and fold to incorporate. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for about 40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before covering with ganache or serve simply dusted with icing sugar and eaten with a generous scoop of Greek yoghurt.

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23 Comments »

  1. Rosa said,

    February 3, 2014 @ 7:14 pm

    I love fresh figs, but dislike the dry ones… Go figure why! 😉

    This cake looks divine.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  2. Cindy said,

    February 3, 2014 @ 7:27 pm

    Lovely! I’m looking forward to fig season down here in Melbourne.

  3. chocolatesuze said,

    February 3, 2014 @ 9:35 pm

    im slooowly learning to appreciate figs but man that cake looks incredible

  4. Helen | Grab Your Fork said,

    February 4, 2014 @ 12:03 am

    This cake looks glorious! Was drooling over it on your IG feed and so glad you’ve posted the recipe 🙂 Did you add chocolate icing as well or do my eyes deceive me?

  5. Asha@FSK said,

    February 4, 2014 @ 2:11 am

    lovely friend! Nothing beats fruits fresh off the tree 🙂

    Oh and I am one of those who don’t have a blow torch. Been thinking of getting one but I ain’t a creme brulee or a meringue fan.. so, I think I’ll take the caramel figs alright! I wonder how long they can be stored?

  6. fanny said,

    February 4, 2014 @ 4:03 am

    this cake looks lovely. definitely trying it this week. x

  7. Gemma @andgeesaid said,

    February 4, 2014 @ 5:52 pm

    yum! this is amazing! will definitely try this out! the chocolate ganache on top looks fantastic 🙂

    xx gemma @ http://www.gemmachew.com

  8. susie said,

    February 6, 2014 @ 6:07 am

    this looks delicious!

    is cornflour in australia, cornmeal/polenta or corn starch?

  9. Y said,

    February 6, 2014 @ 4:22 pm

    susie : Cornflour is corn starch 🙂

  10. Amanda said,

    February 6, 2014 @ 5:34 pm

    I want a friend like that! Your cake looks sensational, naturally. I was reading your entry with my 4 year old looking over my shoulder and he immediately said, “ohhhh, we need to make that cake!”. I won’t post comparison photos 😉

  11. The Food Sage said,

    February 6, 2014 @ 8:27 pm

    That friend is a keeper! I love your fig tips and your chocolate cake looks sensational. Thanks for sharing.

  12. susie. said,

    February 10, 2014 @ 10:31 am

    thank you!! making it right now!

  13. Amanda @ Gourmanda said,

    February 13, 2014 @ 2:10 pm

    Oh my, that’s the kind of friend you want to keep!

  14. Gareth said,

    February 15, 2014 @ 12:58 pm

    This looks like pure sticky goodness. Just add ice cream or cream fresh or not.

  15. Fashimi said,

    February 17, 2014 @ 9:02 pm

    What a cute little cake!!! GIMME!

  16. cyn said,

    February 21, 2014 @ 8:57 am

    now this is the kind of cake that I know I want to make without a qualm – 2 of my favorite ingredients combined! great ideas as always 🙂 xoxo

  17. e / dig in hobart said,

    February 21, 2014 @ 11:02 am

    this is making me want to try my luck again at cocoo pwder, i have terrible results with chocolate cakes using cocoa 9and i use good stuff). your cake looks darkly wonderful.

  18. Carrie said,

    April 25, 2014 @ 8:13 pm

    Wow – I am trying this recipe – and I love your blog. I can see I will be wasting away my afternoon reading all your past blogs!

  19. Scott at Real Epicurean said,

    May 19, 2014 @ 5:39 am

    I love fresh figs but it’s pretty hard to find them around here. Still, I love baking too, so I’m sure I can adapt it to suit. I just need that chocolate!

  20. Macky Blaise said,

    June 6, 2014 @ 11:17 pm

    Fresh figs are healthy.,.,. I love it.. Whenever I travel I prefer to have it as my snacks.

  21. Lily (A Rhubarb Rhapsody) said,

    June 15, 2014 @ 9:15 pm

    That cake looks so completely luscious. High five for free fruit! Looks like you got quite the bounty there.

  22. Emma said,

    August 13, 2014 @ 10:07 pm

    Figs, chocolate and yogurt- YUM! Will be making this cake when figs are back in season! It looks delicious 🙂

  23. Calamari said,

    August 18, 2014 @ 1:03 pm

    OMG Ching… Look AMAZING… Almost worth the trip home to try!! 🙂

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