I have a confession. I cheated big time with this cake. I used…gulp…store bought cake mix! I didnt have time to make cake batter at home and I really wanted to make a fig upside down cake with a gorgeous box of fresh black figs. So I resorted to a betty crocker mix…and it turned our yummy. The figs were so soft and sweet, I thought a nice rum and spice upside down cake would be fitting for these figs.
Dont keep fresh figs for more than two days. They are best used the day you buy them. You could also use dried figs in this recipe – just simmer them in a little water to reconstitute them and then proceed with the recipe.
Wash and pat dry the figs. Then trim off the stems and quarter each fig. Pour some rum and spices over the figs and let them sit while you make the cake batter. Then arrange the figs in a cake pan and pour cake batter on top. Bake according to the instructions on the cake mix box.
When the cake is done, invert it onto a plate and you’ll have gorgeous fig studded cake!
This post goes to monthly mingle over at ‘My Diverse Kitchen’, Meeta and Aparna have chosen the theme, high tea.
Serve about 10
12-16 fresh figs
2/3 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 tbsp sugar, more or less depending on how sweet the figs are
4 tbsp rum (I used captain morgans spiced rum)
1 box store bought cake mix (angel food, white or yellow cake mix)
Ingredients need to make the cake mix
Wash and dry figs. Cut off the stems. Quarter the figs. Arrange the figs in the bottom of a buttered cake pan in a single layer. (divide teh figs and batter into two cake pans if necessary). Mix cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, sugar with rum. Pour this spiced rum over the figs. Then prepare the cake mix according to manufacturers instructions. Pour cake batter into the cake pan, on top of the figs. Bake according to directions on the box. When cake is done, let it cool for 10 minutes and invert in onto a plate.
He he, we all gotta cheat sometimes! The end result looks wonderful, beautiful figs.
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This sounded so darn irresistible that i came right away:-D I have a love affair with figs & never can have enough of it. so what if you cheated? I wish I could have a slice.. actually i would have eaten this entire thing if i was there. Beautiful pictures !
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Cake looks super delicious. I guess you are allowed to cheat once in a while to make something so yummy..
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Looks absolutely delicious, fig upside down is awesome.
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Yum!! Figs and cake equal heaven.
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Of late I have been using store brought cake mix too, mainly for convenience, turns out great everytime.
I am not a big fan of figs but ur cake looks DIVINE! I can try making with figs, unless … any other substitute (‘cept pineapples)?
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
September 24th, 2009 at 1:06 am
@Manasi, if you dont like figs, you could use raisins, dried apricots, plums…
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A beautiful cake and magnificent pictures!
Cheers,
Rosa
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This is such a lovely cake. I just can’t do figs – something about them totally freaks me out. But I would certainly make this for a fig lover!
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This fig dessert looks delicious, and those photos are absolutely gorgeous!
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Never thought fig could be tucked in cake! Amazing pic always tempt me to taste ur dish virtually!
Note: ur pict takes a long time to load but worth to wait, Sala
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
September 24th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
@Cham, thanks for letting me know! im working on speeding things up
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The figs are gorgeous! Sounds delicious with rum too.
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Its a beautiful cake, We’re all guilty of using shortcuts when necessary.
Have to wait a while till its time for fresh figs here. 
Thanks for joining us at the tea party.
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I love figs and this cake looks perfect. A ready made cake mix is not bad at all it’s the creativity that you produce out of it that counts. Thank you so much for the great entry!
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What an excellent cake!!
Looks very tasty & fabulous presentation!
MMMMMMMMMMMMM,….
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Did you say spiced rum? cut me a wedge
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Nothing wrong with cheating
I’d do the same thing! Great looking dessert.
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That’s one irrestible cake Sala. Its ok to cheat, I do that all the time! he he
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Thanks for ur lovely comment in my blog… Hope I am first time here.. The cake is looking gorgeous.. Fantastic!!!!!
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That looks great! I recently discovered how yummy figs can be. YUM!
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Lovely cake. Looks absolutely tempting and should say your photography is phenomenal.
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store brought or otherwise the results look fabulous..You are so gifted..love your blog
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Boy, do you know how to make a store bought cake mix look like a princess. Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for stopping by my kitchen. I love your blog; so many goodies here.
Sam
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it looks yummy and beautiful. i love it. interested to make it. but i have a question. i read several times the recipe. but i couldn’t understand some part of that.
1-after arranging the fig in the pan, then pour the rum spice on the figs, then do I have to pour 2-the cake batter top of the figs?the cake mustn’t be cover completely the figs?
isn’t it?
i am looking forward your response to jump to kitchen and make it. by the way it’s the fig season here. it was long time to looking forward it to make this recipe
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Yes, you have pour the cake batter over the figs. And you dont want to crowd the figs too dense, its nice to see some of the cake on the top
Hope this helps! Let e know how the cake turns out..
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The more I explore your website, the more I become a fan of you and your creativity. And it comes so naturally to you. Hats off!! wonderful amazing pics and wonderful amazing ideas. I am hooked on. (you probably have heard it a zillion times bfr and know all of that very well but I still had to say it). I’ll have to make sure that I follow you on fb too.
Ritesh(Ritu)
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Nice cake. Got hold of some fresh figs today. Gonna make this from scratch with a twist
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