Fig and Hazelnut Tea Cake with Orange Glaze
Combining culinary influences from England, Germany and Italy, this tea cake features figs, hazelnuts, orange, and anise for a beautiful Old World flavor. Wonderfully fragrant and a pure delight for the taste buds, this Fig and Hazelnut Tea Cake with Orange Glaze is unique and memorable and is sure to become a favorite!
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. It has fabulous Old World flavor and an incredible fragrance that will fill your kitchen and home as it bakes.
- 2/3 cups shelled whole hazelnuts
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups chopped dried figs
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs , at room temperature
- 2 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground anise seed (this is anise seed, NOT star anise)
- or 1/2 teaspoon anise extract
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1/2 cup powdered/confectioner sugar