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Easy Homemade Fig Butter Recipe

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 15, 2024 • 1 min read

When life gives you figs, make fig butter.

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What Is Fig Butter?

Fig butter is a spread made from fresh figs reduced to a thick, spreadable paste. Figs are naturally low in pectin, which means they need added pectin to make jam. But to make creamy fig butter, all you need is figs.

What Does Fig Butter Taste Like?

Fig butter has a rich, sweet flavor. Since it’s made with less sugar than fig jam, it has a creamier consistency and more of a rustic, hearty texture. You can make fig jam with absolutely no added sugar, but a little honey, some cardamom, and a pinch of salt round out the flavor profile.

3 Ways to Use Fig Butter

There are endless ways to use fig butter, but some of the easiest are:

  1. 1. In ice cream: If you’ve ever had fig-studded gelato, here’s a shortcut: Swirl homemade fig butter into store-bought vanilla gelato.
  2. 2. As a glaze for poultry: Figs and poultry go great together. Use fig butter as a glaze for chicken thighs, duck legs, or even a whole goose.
  3. 3. With cheese: Fig butter is a natural choice for a cheese plate. Or, try this super-easy party snack: Spoon fig butter over a log of goat cheese, and pair it with crackers. It’s the perfect combination of savory and sweet.

Traditional Fig Butter Recipe

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makes

2 cups

prep time

15 min

total time

25 min

cook time

10 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or other wide, shallow pan over high heat, combine figs, honey, lemon juice, and cardamom with enough water to just cover.

  2. 2

    Bring to a boil and immediately reduce to a lively simmer. Simmer until the figs are very soft, about 10 minutes.

  3. 3

    Remove cardamom pods and pass figs through a food mill into a bowl. If you don’t have a food mill, you can use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the figs.

  4. 4

    Season with a pinch of salt. Spoon into jars and let cool to room temperature. Fig butter will keep, refrigerated, about 3 weeks.

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