Fig and Walnut Cake — Mediterranean fig and walnut loaf
A fig and walnut cake combines two of the most evocative Mediterranean ingredients: ripe figs, fresh or dried, and the resin-sharp bite of walnuts. The cake is moist, dense, and faintly spiced — equally at home with coffee, sweet wine, or a slab of pecorino.
i. Origin & history
Figs and walnuts have been paired in Mediterranean baking for centuries. The combination appears in Greek karydopita, Italian pan di fichi, and a thousand home-kitchen variations. The cake here is a contemporary loaf-pan version of the same flavour profile.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 10 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 200 g dried figs (or 300 g fresh figs), roughly chopped
- 150 g walnuts, roughly chopped
- 250 g plain flour
- 200 g caster sugar
- 100 g muscovado sugar
- 200 ml olive oil
- 3 eggs
- 150 ml whole milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 orange
- Pinch salt
iii. Method
- Heat oven to 170 °C. Grease and line a 1 kg loaf tin.
- Whisk oils, sugars, eggs, milk, zest.
- Fold in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt. Stir in figs and walnuts.
- Pour into the tin. Bake 60-65 min until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool 15 min, then turn out.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Karydopita from Greece uses more walnut and a honey syrup. Italian pan di fichi is denser and uses no leavening. Modern variants add port-wine to the figs.
vi. Common questions
What is fig and walnut cake?
Fig and Walnut Cake is mediterranean fig and walnut loaf, from turkish & mediterranean cuisine. The cake is moist, dense, and faintly spiced — equally at home with coffee, sweet wine, or a slab of pecorino
Where is fig and walnut cake from?
Fig and Walnut Cake is from the turkish & mediterranean dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does fig and walnut cake keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 5 days at room temperature.