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    Home » Desserts » Caramelized Figs

    Sep 20, 2017 · Modified: May 7, 2021 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 33 Comments

    Caramelized Figs

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Caramelizing figs brings out their natural sugars and leaves you with a deeply sweet little fruit to snack on or to use as an ice cream topping. Just be careful because these caramelized figs can be made in minutes and are addictive!

    Overhead view of a yellow bowl filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with caramelized figs along with some of their juices with the recipe title at the top of the photo

    Will you shame me if I tell you that I just spent my entire summer watching Big Brother? If you consider yourself too intellectually advanced for trashy television like Big Brother (I'm jealous of you), then you probably have no idea what the show is about. But you know, even as someone who just watched an entire season of it, I couldn't quite tell you what it's about.

    All I know is that it's a major time commitment as it's on three times a week all summer long. Three! At this point, I don't even feel like I'm intelligent enough to do the math to tell you how many episodes that means I watched this summer.

    Or maybe I just really don't want to know. I suppose I need to give myself credit for the fact that I didn't watch Big Brother After Dark (the late night live feed you can tune into) or pay to subscribe to the 24/7 live feed so I could watch the house all day every day.

    If I had the live feed, my life would be a very dark place and it's highly likely this blog would have ceased production way back in June.

    In all fairness, I watch bad TV because I'm usually trying to get work done in the evenings and I can half work and half watch bad TV and still understand what's going on.

    Sadly, I don't watch a lot of intellectual television because I'm not good at sitting on my couch and fully immersing myself into a show. I literally need to be doing something else at all times. Which usually means I'm working on my laptop...

    But it also occasionally means I'm sitting with a big bowl of ice cream and eating my feelings. Everyone knows ice cream is more healing if it has sprinkles on top, but did you know that caramelized figs have an even stronger effect?

    This recipe for caramelized figs was originally posted to We are not Martha back in 2010 and I thought it was high time for an update. Plus, I just really wanted to caramelize figs so I could top my ice cream with them.

    How to Caramelize Figs

    The recipe has been adapted from Martha Stewart's Cooking School cookbook and is quick and easy, leaving you with a seriously delicious treat. If you haven't tried caramelizing figs yet, make sure you do before fig season is over!

    And seriously, how pretty are these? It took me so long to find figs this season and I want them to stick around forever.

    Overhead view of several fresh figs sliced in half

    Because figs are delicious.

    But figs covered in sugar are exponentially more delicious.

    And let's not even talk about what caramelizing them does to their deliciousness levels.

    Overhead view of a bowl of granulated sugar with halved fresh figs in it

    Actually, let's. All you need to do is cover the figs in sugar and place them cut side down in a pan.

    Plus, mix in a little balsamic vinegar, butter, and lemon juice.

    Collage showing process for making caramelized figs, including halved sugar covered fresh figs in a saucepan and figs in saucepan caramelizing in their juices

    And you're ready to dig in. You can enjoy the caramelized figs warm or you can cool them to room temperature before digging in.

    I'm a fan of adding them as an accompaniment to cheese platters. When I'm not snacking on them right out of the bowl, obviously.

    Overhead close-up view of caramelized figs in a white bowl

    Or, you know, using them as an ice cream topping (I like to drizzle a little of the sauce from the pan over the top, too!).

    I pretty much never eat vanilla ice cream, but if it's topped with figs, I'm totally game.

    More Fig Recipes

    If you're as excited about fig season as I am, check out some of my other favorite fig recipes:

    • Dark Chocolate-Dipped Figs with Gorgonzola
    • Sweet Fig Cocktail
    • Fig, Prosciutto, and Goat Cheese Flatbread
    • Lemony Kale, Quinoa, and Fig Salad
    • Brie and Fig Cupcakes
    • Fig, Prosciutto, and Ricotta Flatbread
    • Fig and Quinoa Overnight Oats (from The Cook and Him)
    • Fig Tart (from The Sweet Occasion)
    Bird's eye view of a yellow bowl filled with vanilla ice cream, caramelized fogs and their juices, with a spoon in the background

    This is heaven. Give me a bowl of fig-topped ice cream, a really bad reality show, and my laptop any day of the week. My needs are pretty simple.

    Overhead view of a yellow bowl filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with caramelized figs along with some of their juices

    I really hope you're not judging me for my Big Brother fandom, but if you're still here after all my Bachelor rambling over the years, I'm assuming my TV preferences don't offend you much. Or maybe, just maybe, you're in this boat with me?

    If that's the case, can we please have a fig caramelizing, Big Brother watching party? I think I need more friends like you.

    Have you ever made caramelized figs before? Next up, I want to caramelize pears!

    If you're looking for more fig recipes, check out my Dark Chocolate-Dipped Figs with Gorgonzola and my Sweet Fig Cocktail. I also love these Fig and Quinoa Overnight Oats from The Cook and Him!

    Overhead closeup view of caramelized figs over vanilla ice cream

    Caramelized Figs

    Caramelizing figs brings out their natural sugars and leaves you with a deeply sweet little fruit to snack on or to use as an ice cream topping. Just be careful because these caramelized figs can be made in minutes and are addictive!
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Fig Recipes, Fresh Fig Recipes, Fresh Figs
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Makes: 24 caramelized fig halves
    Author: We are not Martha

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¼ tsp coarse salt
    • 1 pint figs (about a dozen, halved lengthwise)
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar (can also use ruby or tawny port wine, or marsala wine)
    • 1 ½ Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

    Instructions

    • In a large shallow bowl, stir together sugar and salt. Press the cut side of each fig into the sugar mixture to coat.
    • Heat a large skillet over high heat and add sugar-covered figs, cut side down, and cook until sugar and juices caramelize, about 3-4 minutes. As figs caramelize, turn them over.
    • Remove skillet from the heat and add balsamic vinegar. Return to heat and cook to reduce the vinegar a bit, roughly 30 seconds, making sure to scrape up any caramelized bits on the bottom of the pan.
    • Remove from heat again and add butter and lemon juice, gently swirling to combine.
    • Serve figs immediately or wait until they cool to room temperature. Add to your cheese plate or top ice cream with the caramelized figs.

    Notes

    • Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cooking School (affiliate link).
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne says

      September 23, 2010 at 11:38 pm

      I never even REALIZED that you could caramelize figs. Damn, you just blew my mind.

    2. Michelle says

      September 23, 2010 at 11:47 pm

      In one word - yum!

    3. Erica says

      September 24, 2010 at 6:34 am

      ow! I was just thinking when I saw this post title that they would be awesome with some vanilla ice cream! Great minds think alike, right?

    4. Shannon says

      September 24, 2010 at 9:25 am

      oh man, i'm seriously drooling over here. they'd be an awesome topper for greek yogurt too! or oatmeal 😉

    5. Daisy says

      September 24, 2010 at 10:54 am

      those look so pretty.

    6. Monique says

      September 24, 2010 at 11:38 am

      FIGS! Oh how i love thee! These look amazing!

      Def want to try these. I spotted some GORGEOUS Figs at the farmers market. Me Thinks I be getting somg figs today! lol

    7. MichellePC says

      September 24, 2010 at 12:51 pm

      Oooh, these look amazing. I recently made a grilled cheese sandwich with goat milk brie and roasted figs, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since!

    8. Emily @ The Happy Home says

      September 24, 2010 at 1:41 pm

      oooh. caramelized figs always seem so incredibly high-class to me. fancy shmancy! and would be sooo good on a bit of ice cream, for sure! maybe with a shortbread cookie, too!

    9. cailen says

      September 24, 2010 at 2:11 pm

      mmm...these look sooo good. i always gravitate towards anything with figs when i'm out to dinner : )

      (ps. i'm working on a post that will be up later today on my blog that'll have a no-knead bread recipe. it's VERY simple and the bread is amazing!)

      have a great weekend!

    10. blackbookkitchendiaries says

      September 24, 2010 at 3:35 pm

      this really bring me back 10 yrs ago when i was in London.. i ate this at a cute little cafe.. i am so happy to see this post. they are lovely. thank you for sharing:)

    11. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says

      September 24, 2010 at 4:38 pm

      I've never actually had a fresh fig (hehe) but I love caramelized anything! This is such a simple recipe and I bet it would be a hit at dinner parties.

    12. Jen @ Lita's World says

      September 24, 2010 at 5:10 pm

      WOW! Seriously, those need to be made and put in my belly too!!

    13. Gina says

      September 24, 2010 at 6:17 pm

      Oh my goodness. I discovered figs just this year and am totally obsessed. I have to try this!

    14. Susan says

      September 25, 2010 at 11:46 am

      I think these could be addictive! What a delicious idea.

    15. Sharlene says

      September 27, 2010 at 10:01 pm

      I just bought some figs and haven't ever used them before. I'm trying to decide on what to do with them and this is definitely at the top of my list right now. Looks delicious!

    16. Aza says

      August 22, 2011 at 1:07 pm

      I just made your recipe using figs from a tree in the yard of a house we recently moved into, and the dish is very delicious eaten directly from the pan. So fine!
      Thank you.

    17. Shirley says

      September 05, 2011 at 10:22 pm

      This recipe was great! I had a bunch of figs that were going to go bad...not after I found this recipe!! We are it with the rotisserie chicken! This recipe is now going to replace the cranberry sauce at thanksgiving too! 5 stars!

    18. rumgirl says

      November 19, 2011 at 12:39 pm

      I added red onions and topped on grilled wheat dough and goat cheese for an easy and delicious pizza!

    19. Veronika says

      November 15, 2013 at 9:20 am

      Thanks for sharing! Caramelized figs; figs over salad greens with a little raspberry dressing; figs with ice cream and whipped cream. Now I'm hungry.

    20. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

      September 21, 2017 at 10:03 am

      Caramelized figs?! I'm so amazed! I love the looks of this and I bet this is delicious on just about anything. So perfect for fall, too. I've got to try this!

    21. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      September 21, 2017 at 10:37 am

      I feel lucky I never got into Big Brother because I guarantee I'd need that live feed subscription. I certainly don't object to trashy television--Little Women LA is my current favorite. But let's just keep that between us? These figs need to happen soon in my life. YUM!

    22. Lexi @ Sempre Dolce says

      September 22, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      Look at that caramelized goodness! And I can only imagine paired with cheese... *happy sigh*

    23. Amanda says

      February 27, 2018 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      I can't get enough of figs, and these look amazing!!

    24. Chrisy says

      February 27, 2018 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      Always been a fan of figs, but haven't had them carmelized before. Can't wait to make them this way! 😀

    25. Brenda Lakanen says

      August 01, 2018 at 6:23 pm

      I found this recipe last Summer and was instantly in love! Now I have a fresh batch of figs and can't wait to make them again. Simple and delicious!

    26. Sues says

      August 02, 2018 at 9:50 am

      @Brenda- Yay! Thank you!! It's one of my all-time faves 🙂 So happy figs are in season!

    27. Marie says

      September 29, 2018 at 10:15 am

      Delicious! Do you know how long they will last in the refridgeator?

    28. Sues says

      October 01, 2018 at 11:55 am

      @Marie- They should last about 5 days in the fridge!

    29. Calianne botsaris says

      July 11, 2019 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! This is a serious game changer and I will be using it as my new secret ingredient to impress guests!! I just made them to top a goat cheese, espresso balsamic, arugula pizza and they’re AMAZING! Thank you for sharing!!

    30. Sues says

      July 11, 2019 at 5:44 pm

      @Calianne- I'm so glad you liked them!! That pizza sounds incredible!

    31. Aly says

      August 21, 2020 at 12:26 am

      LMFAO, I’ve never visited your site, but I’m watching Big Brother All-Stars and looking for a caramelized fig recipe. Seems like kismet...at a minimum no judgement! Plan on serving these atop Van Leeuwen Honeycomb ice cream which is insanely delicious on it’s own!

    32. Diane Dzurochak says

      August 21, 2021 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      This simple recipe is truly all you need to make a luscious fig sauce. I use this over homemade vanilla ice cream and short cake and it is to die for.

    33. esilva says

      August 27, 2021 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious over plain Greek yogurt!

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