The best way to use ripe figs is to make a delicious and easy Fresh Fig and Pecan Loaf! (Gluten Free)
A big thank you to my friend Janice who has a huge fig tree in her backyard and she kindly gave meΒ a large bucket of juicy, ripe, sweet, delicious figs!
I was tempted to make them into jam but the idea of a cake infused with sweet figs and the crunch of pecans won over! Β ....(actually I still have plenty left over...so jam making may happen as well π)
I have only recently fell in love with figs...especially fresh figs. Β They are delicious in salads, desserts, on top of the best gluten free pancakesΒ for breakfast ... but even just enjoying them on their own!
Figs trees are from the mulberry family and the fruit can be red, yellow, purple-skinned or green-striped! They a great source of fibre, full of vitamins and minerals and are soft, sweet, juicy....and luscious!
Figs can be eaten fresh or dried but often they are dried or made into jam as the ripe fruit does not last long once they are picked.
so...of course making them into a delicious cake had to be the next best way to use all these delicious figs! π
Now I need to rave just a little about this cake. It is soft, moist with a delicious sweet fig flavour that is not too overpowering and the pecans go just perfectly with a little surprise of crunch!
The tip to this recipe is the addition of cinnamon! The cinnamon really adds to the sweetness and gives this loaf a type of 'banana bread experience' without the stronger flavour of banana.
How to make Fresh Fig and Pecan Loaf! (Gluten Free)
- Preheat the oven to 180ΒΊC or 350ΒΊF and peel and mash the figs. I simply cut off the green tops and the base and mash the ripe figs in a bowl with a fork.
- In a large bowl add in the eggs and whisk till fluffy.
- Add in the sugar and mix, the vegetable oil and mix and then add in the mashed figs and mix.
Mashed Figs! - Not the best looking photo but you get the idea...right? π
- Add in the gluten free flour, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon and mix and then add in the buttermilk and mix well. (When I don't have buttermilk, I use almond milk with a ΒΌ teaspoon of white vinegar)
- Fold through the pecans and pour into a loaf tin that is lined with baking paper or greased and bake in the oven for 50mins or till when a toothpick is inserted itΒ then comes out clean.
Recipe for Fresh Fig and Pecan Loaf! (Gluten Free)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of fresh ripe figs (peeled and mashed)
- ⅓ cup of vegetable oil
- 1 Β½ cups of gluten free flour
- 1 Β½ teaspoons of baking soda
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup of buttermilk
- ½ cup of pecans - chopped
- Preheat the oven to 180ΒΊC or 350ΒΊF
- In a large bowl add in the eggs and whisk till fluffy.
- Add in the sugar and mix, the vegetable oil and mix and then add in the mashed figs and mix.
- Add in the gluten free flour, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon and mix and then add in the buttermilk and mix well.
- Fold through the pecans and pour into a loaf tin that is lined with baking paper or greased and bake in the oven for 50mins or till when a toothpick is inserted it then comes out clean.
Thanks Janice!! π
Enjoy!!
π
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Nicole
This fig bread isceliciois. I used walnuts instead of pecans.
Nicole
This fig bread is deliicious.. I used walnuts instead of pecans.
Barb
So glad you liked it Nicole!!
Yes, great idea using walnuts.... delicious. Enjoy!! π
Rachel
Hi! I want to make this recipe, but I can't use dairy. What are some good substitutes for buttermilk?
Barb
Hi Rachel!
I use 1/4 cup of almond milk and a 1/4 of teaspoon of vinegar or you could use 1/4 cup non dairy milk eg coconut milk and 3/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Mix the two together and then let the mixture sit for 2-5 minutes and then add to the ingredients. Enjoy! π