Fig cake

Not to be confused with Fig-cake (fruit).

Fig cake

Skillet fig cake topped with whipped cream
Type	Cake
Course	Dessert
Serving temperature	Cold or warmed
Main ingredients	Fig fruit and cake batter
Similar dishes	Fruitcake
Media: Fig cake

A fig cupcake

A fig cupcake

Fig cake (Greek: sikopita) is a cake prepared with fig as a primary ingredient. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Some preparation variations exist. It is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States, Greek cuisine, and the Appalachian Mountains region of North America. It is also a part of the cuisine of Ocracoke, North Carolina, which has an annual fig festival. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

Overview

Fig cake is prepared with fig as a main ingredient. Additional ingredients include typical cake ingredients, along with unique ingredients such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. ^{[1] [8] [9] [10]} Fig cake may be a moist cake, and may be topped with a fig-based sauce, honey, whipped cream or a glaze. ^{[9] [11] [12]} A buttermilk glaze is used atop some fig cakes. ^{[12] [13]} Figs may be used to garnish the cake. ^[9] Fig cake may be prepared as a pudding cake, ^[14] a bundt cake, a layer cake and as a torte cake. It can be prepared as a gluten-free dish. ^[15] Fig cake may be baked in a skillet. Fig tarts may be prepared using fig as a primary ingredient. ^[16]

In cuisines

Fig cake is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States ^{[ citation needed ]} and a part of Greek cuisine, in which it is referred to as sikopita. ^{[2] [3] [17] [18]} Fig preserves is sometimes used in the preparation of fig cakes and sikopita. ^{[8] [3]}

By region

Appalachians

Fig cake and similar cakes have traditionally been served in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States as a part of Old Christmas celebrations. ^[19] In this region, Old Christmas is celebrated through January 6 each year. ^[19] January 6th is the date of the arrival of the biblical Wise Men in Bethlehem. ^[19] Fig cake, along with similar cakes such as jam cake, prune cake and applesauce cake, are common in this region during the Christmas and holiday season. ^[19]

Ocracoke

In Ocracoke, North Carolina, figs and fig cake are a prominent part of the town's cuisine, and the town has an annual fig festival that includes a fig cake contest. ^[8] In Ocracoke, the cake was first prepared by Margaret Garrish sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, and the recipe was picked up by others in the town. ^[8] Fig cake is served at several restaurants in Ocracoke. ^[8]

See also

• Food portal

• Fig roll
• Fruitcake
• List of cakes

References

1. Chiffolo, A.F.; Hesse, R.W. (2006). Cooking with the Bible: Biblical Food, Feasts, and Lore. Greenwood Press. p. 92. ISBN   978-0-313-33410-8.
2. "Sykomaida". TasteAtlas. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
3. "Sykomaida (sykopita or sikopita)" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
4. "The Ocracoke Fig Festival". Ocracoke Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
5. "Ocracoke Fig Festival". Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
6. "Ocracoke to host its annual "Fig Festival" in August". WNCT-TV. 22 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
7. Fox, Gene (15 July 2021). "The Ocracoke Fig Festival". Washington Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
8. Weigl, Andrea (1 September 2015). "Learning to make a better fig cake". The News & Observer . Retrieved 28 November 2024.
9. Yen, Donna (25 June 2015). "Cake of the Day: Honey Fig Cake With Pistachios". Yahoo! . Retrieved 2 January 2016.
10. Tanis, David (August 16, 2013). "Fig and Almond Cake". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
11. Greenspan, D. (2013). Baking: From My Home to Yours. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 198–199. ISBN   978-0-547-34806-3.
12. Slowe, Betty (30 September 2015). "Betty Slowe: Orient Express Fig Cake". The Tuscaloosa News . Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
13. Yeager, Andrea (22 July 2015). "Cook's Exchange – It's a fine year for figs". Bradenton Herald . Retrieved 28 November 2024.
14. Benton, G.A. (24 December 2015). "Peppered with style: Wonderful Salt & Pine could be even better". Columbus Alive. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
15. Hart, Susan (3 September 2014). "Susan Hart: Gluten-free chocolate fig cake". The Nevada Appeal. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
16. Janovich, Adriana (15 December 2015). "Fig frangipane tart makes a holiday statement". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved 28 November 2024.
17. Halidia, Maria. "Sykomaida recipe" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
18. Petridou, Marina (18 September 2024). "Explainer: Everything you need to know about Greek figs" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
19. Lundy, Ronni (22 December 2015). "Celebrate Old Christmas with a taste of mountain nostalgia". Asheville Citizen-Times . Retrieved 28 November 2024.

Further reading

• Weigl, Andrea (20 September 2014). "Your Signature Dish: Fabulous fig cake". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2 January 2016.