This is probably a good time to point out that the best healthy fresh fig dessert recipes aren’t always the perfect, well-shaped firm ones. Oh no! You want them soft and squishy, with a bit of syrupy juice oozing out of them.
Some of the best are those that have begun to wrinkle after sitting on your counter for a few days. If you don’t understand what all the fuss is about with figs, you haven’t had a good and properly ripe fig.
Figs can be served sweet or savory. They enjoy honey, caramel, cinnamon, and sugar. They enjoy a little salt and/or pepper and shine when paired with cultured dairy like sour cream, crème fraîche, yogurt, labneh, or quark—as well as all kinds of soft fresh or hard aged cheeses.
They go great with savory meats like prosciutto or bacon, so stuff a sandwich or top a pizza with them. They also get along well with dark chocolate and are nuts about nuts.
And when it comes to cooking, figs are brilliant at both ends of the spectrum: cooked hot and fast (just to caramelize the cut sides) or cooked long enough to stew in their own juices.
If figs could talk, they’d demand that you make a composed plate with almost any combination of the good things I just mentioned. Here are 27 ways to make figs your jam (ideas, recipes, and everything in between!):
What are these healthy fresh fig dessert recipes?
Figs are green or purple teardrop-shaped fruits that are sweet and tart. They’re pulpy and soft, almost jelly-like, but the seeds give them a grainy texture. Figs have a distinct sweetness to them as well as being a good source of nutrients, which is why they are so appealing.
Figs are delicious on their own, but you can also use them in one of these fresh fig recipes to make some delectable dishes.
15 healthy fresh fig dessert recipes
1. Figs with Dark Chocolate
If you like strawberries dipped in chocolate, you’ll love this decadent dark chocolate fig recipe. The sweet, fruity figs pair perfectly with the bitter dark chocolate. When a pinch of salt is added to the mix, it achieves the ideal flavor balance that will leave you wanting more. Bring a platter of these to the next party and watch how quickly they disappear!
2. Salad of Figs and Arugula with Pecans
This fig salad is extremely adaptable and can be served with any of your favorite main courses. Sweet figs, peppery arugula, red onion, and roasted pecans are tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette sweetened with maple syrup in this summer salad. Add some crumbled goat cheese for a delicious medley of flavors.
3. Bread with Figs and Bananas
Add fresh figs to your classic banana bread to take it to the next level. It will give the bread a nice moistness, and you can make it even more appealing by topping it with chopped, toasted nuts like pistachios and walnuts. Serve with a cup of tea in the afternoon, and keep any leftovers in the fridge for later.
4. Cake with Figs
This aesthetically pleasing fig cake will elevate your dinner spread like no other! It’s bright, beautiful, and irresistibly delicious! Arrange fresh fig halves over the almond cake batter before baking until golden brown. The lemon zest and juice in the batter give the cake a lovely fresh aroma. It’s safe to say it promises a sensory overload!
5. Coffee Cake with Figs
This coffee cake is so delicious that it will have you looking for fresh figs! It is also simple to make. Simply make a basic cake batter, fold in figs, and top with a crumbly oatmeal-almond streusel topping before baking. After baking, the fresh figs will have a jam-like consistency, yielding a delectable dessert.
6. Fig and Gorgonzola Pizza with Balsamic Onions and Prosciutto
Did you know that pineapple isn’t the only fruit that can be used to make pizza? This pizza recipe pairs sweet figs with the salty and savory flavors of caramelized onions, cheeses, and thinly sliced prosciutto. To give the traditional pizza a modern twist, serve it with peppery baby arugula and a Balsamic drizzle.
7. Fresh Fig Newton Biscuits
This newton recipe is ideal for a dessert binge. To begin, you’ll need to make a jam from ripe figs. The fig jam is then stuffed into light and fluffy cookies, resulting in fruity flavors in every crunchy bite. Serve the cookies with creamy cheeses and salt-cured meat to make a delicious platter.
8. Fresh Fig Smoothie with Dates and Almond Butter
Start your day off right with this protein-packed smoothie recipe. In a blender, combine fresh figs, dates, almond butter, and chilled milk until smooth. Serve immediately for a creamy, nutritious, and filling treat. You can also customize it with bananas, strawberries, cocoa powder, and other ingredients.
9. Fresh Fig Jam, made from scratch
Fig jam is widely available, but nothing beats homemade fig jam. Use fresh figs, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest to make it. This easy recipe yields flavorful and aromatic fresh jam that goes well with everything from cheese plates, fruit platters, and charcuterie boards to sandwiches and flatbreads.
10 Honey Roasted Cinnamon Figs
Do you need a quick snack? Honey-roasted figs are delicious! To prepare, brush fresh figs with butter, then drizzle them with honey, cinnamon, lemon zest, and pistachios before roasting them to perfection. To balance the natural sweetness of figs, serve this sweet-tender treat with mascarpone, ice cream, or Greek yogurt.
11. Raw Fig Bars
The filling is made with fresh figs and ground flaxseed, and the crust/crumb layer is made with raw almonds, ground flaxseed, Medjool dates, vanilla extract, and unsweetened almond milk. We recommend making a large batch over the weekend for a quick energy boost on the go during busy weekdays.
12. Refreshing Fig Cocktail for Fall
If you’re looking for something to energize you after a long day, this fig cocktail will come in handy! To make a delicious drink, make a syrup with sugar, figs, and rosemary and combine it with a shot of gin, a squeeze of lemon, and tonic water. Serve with fresh sliced figs and rosemary as a garnish.
13. Toast with Salted Honey Figs
This fruity spin on traditional toast will have you looking forward to breakfast every morning! This simple recipe calls for making vanilla ricotta and then layering it generously on toasted whole grain bread. To delight your senses, garnish with sliced figs and serve drizzled with honey and a sprinkle of sea salt.
14 Figs Stuffed with Goat Cheese
This appetizer is out of this world! Fresh figs, soft goat cheese, extra virgin olive oil, ground black pepper, and date syrup or honey are the only ingredients needed. It makes delectable finger food that will have everyone at your dinner table begging for more.
15. Baked figs with vanilla ice cream or crème Fraiche
Cut the figs in half and place them (cut side up) in a baking dish large enough to hold them all in one layer. Drizzle with two parts honey to one part balsamic vinegar (the cheap stuff works fine) or lemon juice, and season with salt. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the figs are very tender and squishy and the juices are syrupy.
Check-in 10 to 15 minutes before the end of the baking time: if the juices are thin and copious, bake uncovered until done. Add a little water if the juices become too thick and syrupy before the figs are soft. When the figs are almost done, taste the syrup and adjust the flavor as needed with honey, vinegar, a pinch of salt, or a squeeze of lemon juice. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of crème fraîche, serve warm, hot, or cold. Figs can be stored in the refrigerator for at least a week.
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