Fresh Fig and Ricotta Cake

As you're all aware, I'm a HUGE fan of Ina Garten. She's incredibly classy and all her recipes have always turned out amazing. I recently purchased her new cookbook, Cook like a Pro, and decided that the first recipe that I'd make out of it would be the Fresh Fig and Ricotta Cake. Y'all, this recipe did not disappoint, and Dr. Sweetpea and I devoured the cake in three days. This was my first time working with fresh figs and they were so tasty! 

Fresh Fig and Ricotta Cake

(Source: Ina Garten)

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup fresh whole milk ricotta, at room temperature

2 tablespoons sour cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

8 large (or 12 medium) fresh figs, stems removed, quartered through the stem

1 tablespoon turbinado sugar, such as Sugar in the Raw

Crème fraîche, for serving

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch round springform pan, tapping out the excess flour.

Place the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the mixer on medium low, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl and mixing until smooth. Add the ricotta, sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest and mix until combined. Don’t worry; the ricotta will make it look lumpy.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter, mixing just until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Arrange the figs on the cake, cut sides up, in snug but not -overlapping concentric circles. Sprinkle with the turbindo sugar and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a baking rack for 15 to 20 minutes, transfer to a cake plate, and serve warm with crème fraîche on the side.