Spiced Fig Cake

This would make a beautiful finish to any holiday celebration. Julia made it last year and took it to her husband's office. Everyone there loved it!







Spiced Fig Cake
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk, or sour milk
1 10 oz. jar fig preserves, large pieces cut up
Cream Cheese Frosting
Chopped dried figs

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms and sides of two 9x1 1/2-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper; grease the paper. Lightly flour pans. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, salt and ginger; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in cooking oil. Add sugar; beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Stir in fix preserves. Spread into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 40 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; remove parchment paper. Cool completely on wire racks.
4. To assemble, place one of the cake layers on a platter. Spread top with some of the Cream Cheese Frosting. Top with second cake layer and spread top with remaining frosting. Garnish with chopped figs.

Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat one 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup butter; and 1 tsp. vanilla with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, beating until smooth.

Posted by: Sallie & Julia