Fig Frosting Food

HOMEMADE FIG NEWTONS

Steps:

• Into a pot add sliced dry figs (14 oz., approximately 400 grams), Orange Liqueur or Rum or orange juice (1/4 cup), water (1/4 cup), brown sugar (2 tablespoons),lemon or orange juice (just of one citrus) and lemon or orange zest (of one citrus).
• Cover pot with a lid and bring to boil. Lower the temperature to simmer and simmer for 20 minutes, or until figs are very soft and most of the liquid is absorbed by figs. If the figs are very dry it's possible more liquid is needed to cook them till soft. Add more liquid, add 1 to 2 tablespoon water at a time as needed.
• Once figs are cooked and very soft, process them in the food processor until smooth. Let cool completely, then fill the piping bag with the filling, set aside.
• Filling can be prepared up to a week ahead and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
• In this recipe I use 2 egg yolks. Separate 2 eggs, save egg whites for later.Sift together flour (1 3/4 cup), baking soda (1/4 teaspoon), salt (1/4 teaspoon) and cardamom/cinnamon (optional, 1/2 teaspoon). Set aside
• Beat room temperature unsalted butter (1/2 cup,113 grams) with brown sugar (1/4 cup) and granulated sugar (1/4 cup) until smooth, 5 minutes. Add egg yolks (2 room temperature egg yolks) and beat until combined. Then beat in vanilla extract, (1 teaspoon). Scrape down the bowl few times to ensure everything is well combined.
• Lastly, on low speed gradually add flour mixture.
• Once the dough comes together, form a disk and wrap the dough into a plastic wrap. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Divide cookie dough into 6 portions. Line the work surface with plastic wrap. Take a piece of cookie dough and form into a log. Put another piece of plastic wrap on top of the log. Press gently. Take a rolling pin and roll it out thinly into a rectangle, at least 4 inches wide. Trim the excess dough so rectangle is 4 inches wide and about 10 inch long
• Take a piping bag with the filling and pipe a long rope in the center of the rectangle. Lift one side of plastic wrap and fold the dough over the filling. Press gently to spread and flatten the filling underneath the cookie dough layer. Lift opposite side of the plastic wrap and fold the remaining portion of cookie rectangle over the first cookie fold. Press gently with your hands to flatten it out. Unfold the cookie log, hold one side of plastic wrap, gently roll the log so the seam is on the bottom. Cut the cookie log with a knife into about 1.5 to 2 inch pieces.TIP : You can also bake whole logs if desired. If so bake whole logs for 15-17 minutes, until golden brown. Allow cookies to cool then cut into smaller pieces.
• Preheat oven to 350F (180C) bake for 10-13 minutes.Transfer cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat. Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes until very lightly golden on the bottom. Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy. Store in the airtight container. Cookies will get softer as they rest.

FRESH-FIG CAKE WITH HONEY CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 10-inch cake pan (or two 9-inch pans), and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, baking soda and salt.
• Using an electric mixer, whisk to combine sugar and eggs until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Whisk in oil and buttermilk or yogurt to combine.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold dry ingredients into egg mixture just until combined. Fold in figs, jam and pecans.
• Scrape into prepared cake pan and bake until browned and springy to the touch, about 65 to 75 minutes (or 35 to 45 minutes for the 9-inch pans). If the top gets too dark before the cake is finished baking, cover it with foil. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• While cake is cooling, make the frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat butter, cream cheese and salt on low speed until smooth. Beat in honey and vanilla, then beat in confectioners' sugar.
• To assemble the cake, remove cooled cake from pan and peel off parchment paper. Slice cake in half horizontally, so you end up with 2 layers. (You don't need to do this for the 9-inch cakes.) Spread half the frosting between the layers, sandwiching it. Dollop remaining frosting in a thick layer on top of the cake, leaving a 1-inch border on the top of the cake, the sides, bare. Chill until ready to serve. Just before serving, top with sliced figs.

FIG BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. On low speed, beat in 1 cup flour until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until center is set.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, cook filling ingredients over medium-high heat 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until figs are tender and most of liquid is absorbed. Spread over crust.
• In small bowl, mix 1/4 cup flour, the brown sugar and 3 tablespoons butter, using pastry blender or fork, until crumbly. Stir in oats and walnuts. Sprinkle over filling.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until edges are bubbly and topping is light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

LEMON AND FIG CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes:
• Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line two cupcake pans with twelve paper baking cups each. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, and set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a bowl with a handheld electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
• Combine the vanilla extract and milk in a large liquid measuring cup.
• Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one third of the milk mixture, beating slowly until well incorporated. Add another third of the flour mixture, followed by another third of the milk mixture. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat just until combined.
• Add the lemon juice and lemon zest, and mix until well combined.
• Scoop batter into the baking cups so that each is two-thirds full. On top of each cupcake, place one fig slice so that it covers the surface of the batter. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!
• For the (optional) frosting:
• In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a bowl with a handheld electric mixer, mix all the ingredients for approximately 3 to 5 minutes, until the frosting is light and airy. Frost each cupcake with a thick layer of the frosting using an offset spatula.

FIG FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine egg white, sugar, water, and lemon juice in top of double boiler, beating with mixer until well mixed.
• Place over rapidly boiling water, beating constantly, and cook for 4 minutes, or until frosting will stand in peaks.
• Remove from the boiling water and add lemon peel, almond extract, and figs.
• Beat until thick enough to spread.

ITALIAN FIG COOKIES (CUCCIDATI)

Steps:

• Prepare filling: Working in two batches with ½ of the figs and ½ of the dates at a time, pulse dried fruit in a food processor until finely chopped; transfer to a bowl.
• Use a vegetable peeler to peel orange zest into the empty food processer. Juice the orange until you have 3 tablespoons juice; add it to the food processor. Add raisins, pecans, honey, brandy, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg and process until finely mixed.
• Add fig-date mixture and process until well combined, adding water 1 tablespoon at a time as needed to reach a thick consistency. Refrigerate filling for 8 hours to overnight.
• Prepare dough: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor and process for 5 seconds to combine. Add butter and shortening and pulse until crumbly. Add milk, egg, vanilla, and almond extract and process until a dough forms.
• Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and cut into 4 pieces. Roll one piece into a 4x12-inch rectangle, about 1/8-inch thick. Trim off any excess to form straight edges and save to make more cookies.
• Place about ¼ of the filling in a 1-inch log shape down the rectangle, just to the right of the center line. Dampen the edges of the dough with water and fold the right edge over the filling. Continue rolling the dough toward the left edge, then rock back and forth gently to stretch and seal the edges. Cut the log into 2- to 3-inch pieces. Make 2 or 3 slits in the top of each cookie to allow steam to escape. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden on the bottom and cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Repeat to form, cut, and bake remaining cookies.
• Prepare icing by whisking powdered sugar and milk together in a bowl until smooth. Divide icing into thirds in 3 small bowls. Color one bowl with red food coloring to make pink icing, color another bowl with green food coloring to make green icing, and leave the remaining icing white.
• Dip each cookie into a different color icing and allow excess to drip off. Place iced cookies on parchment paper and decorate lightly with sprinkles. Allow to dry for at least 20 minutes before serving.

FIG ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Soak figs in a bowl of water until softened, 3 to 4 hours. Drain figs and chop.
• Combine chopped figs, 2 tablespoons sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until until sugar is dissolved and figs begin to break down, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Cover saucepan with a lid and refrigerate.
• Heat half-and-half in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until hot but not boiling, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
• Whisk 1/2 cup sugar, egg yolks, and salt together in a bowl until smooth. Temper egg mixture by drizzling 1 to 2 tablespoons half-and-half into egg mixture, while continuously whisking egg mixture until slightly warmed. Pour egg mixture into half-and-half and return saucepan to medium-low heat; cook, whisking constantly, until custard is smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Place saucepan with custard in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally, until chilled, about 30 minutes. Stir sour cream and vanilla extract into chilled custard. Cover saucepan and chill custard completely, at least 3 hours.
• Process custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Stir fig mixture into ice cream in the last 5 minutes of processing. Transfer fig ice cream to a container and freeze until solid.