A rich and fruity cake to be savoured with your drink of choice!
Ingredients
- 5 eggs
- 170g golden caster sugar
- 80g wholemeal flour
- 100g plain flour, sifted
- 50g ground almonds
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 70ml cold chamomile tea
- 4 tbsp 70% chopped chocolate or chocolate drops
- 5 dried figs, pre-soaked in brandy, then finely chopped
For the topping:
- 120g sifted icing sugar
- 2 tbsp cold chamomile tea (you may need a little more)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 4 fresh figs, sliced into thirds
- Edible flowers (eg pansies or borage), to decorate
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4. Line a 900g loaf pan with parchment.
- Add the eggs into the bowl of a mixer, begin to whisk, adding the sugar slowly until pale and mixture holds its shape. Fold in the plain and wholemeal flour, ground almonds, cocoa powder and baking powder to form a thick batter.
- Stir in the chocolate and the chopped figs together with the chamomile tea. Transfer to the lined loaf tin and bake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer is inserted and it comes out clear.
- Transfer to a cooling rack.
- For the topping, mix the icing sugar, lemon zest and chamomile tea to form a thick smooth paste.
- When the cake is cold, place it on a cooling rack with parchment under (to catch the drips) and spoon the icing over the top, leave to set slightly. Transfer to a serving platter and arrange the fig wedges and edible flowers on top.
- Enjoy with a glass of port or of course, a cup of tea!
