Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease three, 9-inch round cake pans. In the bowl of a standing mixer, or using a hand-held mixer and a medium bowl, beat the sugar and oil until blended.

Growing up, the only time I ate figs was when my father brought home a package of Fig Newtons, his favorite grocery store cookies. Occasionally, he would come home, look at me wordlessly and crinkle ...