Fig, Anise & Hazelnut Tea Cake with Orange Glaze

This cake combines some influences of England, Germany and Italy.  Dense cakes like this make the perfect accompaniment for afternoon tea, a long-held English tradition.  The hazelnuts and anise are popular baking ingredients in Germany and Italy and their aroma brings back many fond memories for me.  Being from Germany, having lived several years in England, and cherishing my adventures in Italy, this cake embodies the best of three worlds.

This cake has a great texture that is punctuated by chewy figs and crunchy hazelnuts and laced with a wonderful orange flavor from the zest and glaze. Your kitchen will smell heavenly while it’s baking!

Bake a loaf of this delicious cake, brew up some tea and enjoy a nice visit with some friends!

Let’s get started!

First toast the hazelnuts: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the hazelnuts in one layer on a baking sheet. Place it on the middle rack and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly colored and skins are blistered.

Wrap the nuts in a kitchen towel and let them steam 1 minute. Then rub the nuts in the towel to remove the skins (don’t worry if they don’t all come off).  Let them cool completely.

Chop the figs.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and ground anise (unless using extract – add it to the wet ingredients) into a large bowl.

Add the toasted hazelnuts and the chopped figs and stir to coat.

In another large bowl, beat the butter until fluffy.

Add the sugar and continue to beat another 4-5 minutes until fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

Add the orange zest and the anise extract if you aren’t using ground anise.

Stir in the flour/fig/hazelnut mixture until combined. The dough will be very stiff.

Butter and flour a 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 loaf pan. Spoon the dough into the prepared loaf pan.

In the oven preheated to 350 degrees F, bake on the middle rack for 60-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before inverting the cake onto the wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cake is cooled, make the orange glaze:
In a medium bowl, microwave (or use a saucepan over the stovetop) the butter and orange juice together until the butter is melted.

Remove and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar and whisk vigorously until smooth and thickened.

The icing will firm up quickly so use it within 5 minutes. If it does thicken simply reheat it for a few minutes.

Drizzle the hot glaze over the cooled cake, allowing it to run down the sides, and let it stand for about 1 hour until the glaze is set.

Slice and serve immediately.  This cake is best the eaten the first day.

Enjoy!

Anise, Fig and Hazelnut Tea Cake with Orange Glaze.

5.0 from 3 reviews

Fig, Anise & Hazelnut Tea Cake with Orange Glaze

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

75 mins

Total time

1 hour 35 mins

 

: Kimberly Killebrew, www.daringgourmet.com

Serves: Serves 8

Ingredients

• ⅔ cups shelled whole hazelnuts
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1½ cups chopped dried figs
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cup sugar
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2½ teaspoons grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon ground anise or ½ teaspoon anise extract
• For the Orange Glaze:
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate
• ½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. First toast the hazelnuts: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the hazelnuts in one layer on a baking sheet. Place it on the middle rack and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly colored and skins are blistered. Wrap the nuts in a kitchen towel and let them steam 1 minute. Then rub the nuts in the towel to remove the skins (don't worry if they don't all come off). Let them cool completely.
2. Stir together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and ground anise (unless using extract - add it to the wet ingredients) into a large bowl. Add the toasted hazelnuts and the chopped figs and stir to coat.
3. In another large bowl, beat the butter until pale and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to beat another 4-5 minutes until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the orange zest and the anise extract if you aren't using ground anise. Stir in the flour/fig/hazelnut mixture until combined. The dough will be very stiff.
4. Butter and flour a 8½ X 4½ loaf pan. Spoon the dough into the prepared loaf pan.
5. In the oven preheated to 350 degrees F, bake on the middle rack for 60-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before inverting the cake onto the wire rack to cool completely.
6. Once the cake is cooled, make the orange glaze:
7. In a medium bowl, microwave (or use a saucepan over the stovetop) the butter and orange juice together until the butter is melted. Remove and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar and whisk vigorously until smooth and thickened. The icing will firm up quickly so use it within 5 minutes. If it does thicken simply reheat it for a few minutes.
8. Drizzle the hot glaze over the cooled cake, allowing it to run down the sides, and let it stand for about 1 hour until the glaze is set.
9. Slice and serve immediately. This cake is best the same day.

3.5.3208