Spiced Fig Butter: A flavorful homemade spread

Discover the rich and complex taste of homemade Spiced Fig Butter. Sweet figs are slow-cooked with aromatic cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, creating a truly indulgent spread. Versatile and delicious, it’s the perfect addition to elevate your culinary creations.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What is fig butter?

Fig butter is a delectable fruit spread crafted from slow-cooked figs. Unlike its thinner counterpart, fig jam, fig butter boasts a rich, velvety texture similar to peanut butter. This concentrated sweetness comes from extended cooking, which removes excess moisture.

While traditionally enjoyed plain, fig butter can be enhanced with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for added depth of flavor. The fig’s natural sweetness and the spices create a harmonious blend that’s perfect for spreading on toast, crackers, or incorporating into various recipes.

To achieve the signature buttery texture, figs are cooked until soft and then blended using an immersion blender. This process breaks down the fruit while preserving its natural sweetness and creating a smooth, spreadable consistency.

Spiced Fig Butter pairings

The most obvious use of spiced fig butter is with a charcuterie board. Figs naturally pair well with creamy chevre, brie, and other lighter flavored cheeses. Dark chocolate, herb-roasted nuts, and drizzled honey are other good accompaniments because they will contrast well with the sweety/spicy fig butter. You can also consider using spiced fig butter in pastries, like my Fruit butter sourdough cinnamon rolls. For a savory use, consider using as a sweet and spicy glaze on grilled meats.

How to Preserve Spiced Fig Butter

This recipe is safe for water bath canning according to USDA’s canning guidelines, refer to their guidelines for instructions on best canning practices. At 1,000 feet altitude a half-pint jar will require water bath canning for 10 minutes. A single recipe makes about 2 half pint jars or 4 4oz jars. I also like storing it in some 4oz quilted mason jars, which fit perfectly on a charcuterie board. You will need to water bath can the 4oz jars for 5 minutes. Canned spiced fig butter can last up to 1 year in a dark, cool pantry. To skip the water bath canning step – store in a airtight container for 1 month in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. However, this is so good you’ll probably want to eat it straight from the crock pot!

Spiced Fig Butter

This slow cooked Spiced Fig Butter has cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to make it better than any fig butter you've bought from the store!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:4 hours hrs

Equipment

• 1 slow cooker
• 1 immersion blender

Ingredients

• 2 pounds figs washed and quartered (about 30 medium figs)
• 1/4 c water
• 1/4 c lemon juice
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat slow cooker on high heat.
• Add figs, water, lemon juice and brown sugar to slow cooker set on High.
• After after 1 hour when figs have started to release their juices, pulse with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Add in cinnamon, sticks, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla. Stir and leave on high to thicken to desired consistency.
• After 2-3 hours you may need to turn down to low to prevent scorching. You can keep a wooden spoon between the slow cooker lid and crock to allow excess moisture to escape.
• Continue on low for 3-4 hours. Fig butter should be thick and spreadable.
• Remove whole cinnamon sticks and cloves prior to canning or serving. Store in refrigerator if not canned.

Course: Appetizer, spreads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fig butter, figs, spreads

Servings: 2 cups