© Pastry WishesEasy Honey-baked Figs
Impress your guests with this delicious, light dessert that you can make in less than an hour. These easy, honey-baked figs are a classy way to end a meal.
I love perfectly ripe fresh figs! Not only do they taste great, but they are nutritional powerhouses, too – high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals!
Luckily, here in Greece, there are plenty of figs and lots of different varieties. The most popular ones are green and black.
For this recipe, I used a variety called Vasilika, or Royal figs. They’re dark purple, but some have green and pale yellow streaks, too. I like them because they’re a bit sweeter than the green ones. You can use any variety, really, as long as they’re fresh.
These honey-baked figs are divine and so EASY to make! You only need 5 ingredients!
Whenever I have fresh figs, I usually make jam, but this year, I wanted to develop a new recipe. I decided to infuse different flavors together and bake them. I was really surprised with the outcome!
I serve them over Greek yogurt (pictured in this post). They look so elegant with the flower-like shape! Perfect for a dinner party!
Aaaaaand, they’re absolutely AMAZING with vanilla ice cream (just about everything is, right?). Of course, they’re great on their own, too!
What do these honey-baked figs taste like?
I would say the taste is a combination of honey and jam, but with a mild, sweet flavor and a hint of nuttiness. The spices, honey, and cognac really enhance the delicate flavors of the fruit. The brown sugar adds a subtle caramel flavor that compliments the figs really well and gently caramelizes them. When you take them out of the oven, there’s a gorgeous red syrup in the baking dish – so good!
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE EASY HONEY-BAKED FIGS
Fresh figs – Any variety will do.
Honey – For this recipe, I used Greek flower honey. For a vegan alternative, use maple syrup, instead.
Dark brown sugar – Perfect for a nice caramel undertone.
Spices – I use cinnamon and nutmeg.
Cognac/Brandy – It adds a nice aroma and really captures the overall flavor without being boozy. Instead of cognac or brandy, you could add a sweet wine, like Mavrodafni.
HOW TO MAKE EASY HONEY-BAKED FIGS
They are really simple to make. Here’s what to do:
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- You can use any variety of fresh figs, but I find the darker ones are better for this recipe, especially when they are ripe.
- When you cut the figs, make sure you don’t cut all the way through. That way they keep their pretty flower shape after baking.
- Use a small baking pan so that the figs are close together and hold their shape. I used a 10 x 7.5 inch / 26 x 19.5 cm pan.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
IDEAS FOR SERVING HONEY-BAKED FIGS
Here are a few ideas you may want to try:
- Serve them just as they are! If you’re a fig lover, you will really like them on their own, especially with some walnuts.
- With Greek yogurt. The tanginess of the yogurt really pairs well with the syrup and the fruit. If you’re entertaining, this would make a very impressive dessert, too!
- With vanilla ice cream. OMG! A remarkable combination!
- Over oatmeal. This would make a nice breakfast.
- With bread. You could have them over slices of sourdough bread as a snack or appetizer.
- With cheese. Add them to your cheese board for a Mediterranian twist! In Greece, they’re sometimes served on top of Greek gruyere cheese or goat cheese.
Enjoy!
Let me know how these honey-baked figs turn out for you in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
~Voula
Easy Honey-baked Figs
Ingredients
- 12 fresh figs
- 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons cognac or brandy
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- a pinch of freshly ground nutmeg (optional)
- Greek yogurt or vanilla ice cream and a few walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 392 °F / 200 °C.
- Wash the figs and pat them dry.
- Cut the figs into quarters, but not all the way through.
- Line the figs in a pan and open them like a flower.
- In a small bowl, mix the honey and sugar together.
- Add a teaspoon of the sugar mixture inside the center of each fig.
- Pour the cognac/brandy over the figs.
- Add the nutmeg and cinnamon sticks and bake for about 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool for about 5 minutes.
- Serve with Greek yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or on their own. Garnish with some walnuts, if desired.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any variety of fresh figs, but I find the darker ones are better for this recipe, especially when they are ripe.
- When you cut the figs, make sure you don’t cut all the way through. That way they keep their pretty flower shape after baking.
- Use a small baking pan so that the figs are close together and hold their shape. I used a 10 x 7.5 inch / 26 x 19.5 cm pan.
© Pastry Wishes
© Pastry Wishes
©Pastry Wishes
©Pastry Wishes
© Pastry Wishes
Summers in Greece are HOT! So when strawberries are in season, I love making this easy strawberry mint sorbet. It’s sweet, slightly tangy, yet cool and refreshing at the same time! This healthy summer snack is a perfect way to beat the heat!
© Pastry Wishes
© Pastry Wishes
Homemade strawberry jam is one of my favorite things to make this time of year! I never buy store-bought jam because it just cannot compete with homemade! And I’m not just talking about the intense flavor, but also the fact that there are only 3 ingredients in it and NO pectin! Also, many store-bought jams and marmalades have artificial preservatives and even dyes! 😱 Of course, you could just buy organic ones, but I find most of them way too expensive.
© Pastry Wishes
© Pastry Wishes
