I tired my own version of a Spanish fig cake, Pan de Higo.
8oz dried figs
2oz raisins
2oz dried crandberries
4oz dried peaches (use whatever dried fruit you have)
sliced almonds
sesame seeds
2 tbsp. alcohol (brandy or gin work well)
Soak raisins in alcohol for 24 hours to make them very gooey.
Toast almonds and sesame seeds in a dab of butter.
Finely chop figs and peaches
mix all together thoroughly by hand
line a small container with wax paper
fill with mixture, fold wax paper over the top
press for 24 hours
(you will have to get creative with the press part. I used a small corning ware storage container with a lid that I could invert. Then placed two cans of soup on top)
Lastly the cake has to dry some, either on the counter for a day or two, or in a dehydrator at its lowest setting for a couple hours.
The resulting pressed cake has a rich figgy taste. I really like what the toasted almonds add to it as well. I am already thinking about other variations I can make. I might use some orange peel next time. All I know, there WILL BE an next time!