Fresh Figs Recipe – Prepared 2 Ways

Fresh figs rock! They are delicious eaten raw – straight to the taste buds for a delicate and deep flavour burst. On Facebook market place there are so many for sale and there are so many ways to use them.

Today I am sharing two simple recipes, one takes about 5 minutes with 3 ingredients and the other a bit longer. Both fabulous.

The first recipe is a super simple dessert inspired by the Calabria region of Italy, where my dad and his family immigrated from. Fresh Figs with Chocolate and Nuts. Only 3 ingredients. So simple, can be made ahead and is very impressive in how it looks and delicious in how it tastes. I love the combo of fresh figs, chocolate, and nuts. Does life get any better?

For my second dish I decided to make a childhood favourite – Fig Newton Cookies – I used a combo of Medjool dates and fresh figs to make my fig jam that fills the centre of these soft little morsels. You’ll make the dough and place it in the fridge to set.

Ok, let’s get in the kitchen and work with figs!

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Fresh Figs with Chocolate and Nuts Recipe

My first yummy recipe, Fresh Figs with Chocolate and Nuts, is an elegant inviting dish, great for company. Amazing in its simplicity and beautiful on the plate. Right?

What you will need to make the Fresh Figs with Chocolate and Nuts

• 6 fresh figs, washed and dry
• ¼ cup quality dark chocolate chips or whole chocolate chunks, melted
• ¼ cup chopped nuts, your choice of almonds, pecans, or walnuts, chopped

How to make the Fresh Figs with Chocolate and Nuts

1. Prep and gather your ingredients
2. Dip the bottom half of the figs into the melted chocolate and cover the bottom half of the fig
3. Immediately dip the chocolate-covered fig into the chopped nuts, roll gently to cover
4. Place on a beautiful serving plate, repeat six times
5. Refrigerate till you are ready to serve, they will last a couple of days in the fridge.

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Fig Newton Cookie Recipe

These Fig Newton Cookies are a combo of fresh figs and dried Medjool dates, you could just use all figs too. Just leave off the dates and double the amount of figs. The dough is made ahead of time, separated into 3 balls, and placed in the fridge while you make your fig jam – the delicious centre of the cookie.

What you will need to make the Fig Newton Cookies

How to make the Fig Newton Cookies

1. Prep and gather all your ingredients for the filling and for the dough.
2. In a large mixing bowl, place the butter and the brown sugar
3. Beat well till nice and bubbly
4. Add non-dairy milk and vanilla and beat some more till nice and light
5. Add dry ingredients – flour, baking powder and salt, form into a smooth dough ball
6. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge to cool
7. While the dough is cooling, make the fig filling
8. Add all the ingredients to a pot – except the juice, and cook down, till it starts to break down (pot is on simmer or low).
9. When starting to breakdown, place in a blender or food processor and mix together into a liquid/paste
10. Place back in the pot and cook down some more, till it becomes like a thick jam, add a splash of juice, remove from heat and cool, you may need to blend again to get a smooth texture
11. Take the balls from the fridge and roll each one out between two pieces of parchment paper. Perfection is not necessary. Basically, you are rolling our 3 long rectangular shapes.
12. Fill each centre of the rectangular dough with the fig filling. Carefully use the parchment paper to flip the sides of the dough to the centre. Flip both sides to the centre. You now have a kind of flat roll. Use the parchment to carefully transfer each roll to the baking pan.  
13. Cut the dough strips into pieces for cookies, they don’t have to separate completely.
14. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for about 15 minutes or until golden.
15. Place on rack to cool. If you want them to be even softer, store them in a container with an airtight lid.

For more great vegan dessert ideas click – Here