I have been wanting to make homemade fig preserves for many years. So today I am going to share How to make homemade fig preserves with you.
My obsession with making fig jam or homemade fig preserves started over 10 years ago when I bought a self-pollinating brown turkey fig tree
If you have ever planted a fruit tree you know it takes a few years for the fruit tree to mature enough to bear fruit.
Well, let's just say someone came a little too close to the base of my fig tree a couple of times too many with a lawnmower or weed eater.
The fig tree has been gone awhile now but I still have dreams of growing my own figs one day.
Fresh Figs are only available in the grocery stores for a very short time here in Florida and they are usually very expensive.
Last summer I got lucky and caught some brown turkey figs on sale and snatched a couple of containers up.
Since it was an impulse buy I had no idea how many figs I would need so I bought a couple of containers and hoped I had enough to make a batch of fig preserves.
I love the way this homemade Fig Preserves recipe turned out.
It tastes great on toast and on a bagel with cream cheese. I can also see using it as a filling for cakes or a strudel.
Enjoy the recipe Summer will be here before you know it and when it's fig season you will be looking for the perfect homemade fig preserve recipe!
NEW Fig Preserves Canning Label
I love to use beautiful canning jar labels when I make my jam, jellies, and preserves.
You can purchase this beautiful Fig Preserves Canning Label for your jars. Homemade jams make great gifts.
Canning Supplies Needed to Make Fig Preserves (affiliate links)
These are affiliate links. I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase after clicking a link.
canning jars
- Ball Jelly Elite Collection Jam Jar (4 Pack), 8 oz
- Ball Dissolvable Labels - (Set Of 60) Amazon Best Seller! I love these labels!
- Ball Collection Elite Brushed Silver Design Wide Mouth Jars 8 Oz
- Ball Canning Utensil Set
- Ball® Secure-Grip Jar Lifter
- Ball FreshTECH Automatic Home Canning System Makes heating jars and water-bath canning so much easier than boiling pots on the stove.
More canning recipes
Check out some of my favorite homemade jam and jelly recipes below.
Print the How To Make Homemade Fig Preserves recipe below.
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How To Make Homemade Fig Preserves
Ingredients
- 6 cups brown turkey figs ( stem trimmed and roughly chopped)
- 7 cups sugar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup bottled lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest ((optional))
- 1 teaspoon margarine or butter (to cut down on foaming (optional))
- 3 ounce packet Certo liquid pectin
Instructions
- Wash, trim stems and slice figs into 4th.
- Add first six ingredients to a large pot and let sit about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile boil jars.
- Put flat lids in a small pot of water and boil then turn off the heat.
- On medium heat bring ingredients to a full rolling boil.
- Boil for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in packet of liquid pectin.
- Continue stirring until ingredients come to a full boil. Stop stirring and boil for exactly one minute.
- Remove pot from hot burner.
- Allow preserves to settle.
- Skim foam off top.
- Fill jars.
- Process 20 minutes in a hot water bath.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Use any variety of fresh figs to make preserves.
Nutrition
Searching for more canning recipes like this homemade Fig Preserves recipe? Check out my Canning recipe page where you will find more canning recipes.
Elizabeth Wiebe
Can this recipe be made with dried figs, if so how much is needed? I would like to try it. it looks so yummy.
Arlene Mobley
Elizabeth
Sorry but I have never used dried figs for this recipe so I don't know if you can make Fig Preserves with dried figs.
DebrahAnna
Hi, my name is DebrahAnna (Debi) and I have a very old white fig tree I wish I could show you a picture, if you would like I plan on rooting some of the green branches I have had success doing it before I would love to send you a couple so you can grow your own figs, my tree came from Italy my Father in law had gone back home to Italy and he brought it home, that was about 20 years ago and my tree has flourished I have so many figs I don't know what to do with them all so I'm going to try your recipe. White figs are so much rarer then the purple ones. Let me know if you would like a couple once I root some.
Blessings, DebrahAnna
DebrahAnna
Opps I'm in Jersey I'm sure the baby trees can be shipped so let me know.
Blessings, DebrahAnna
Arlene Mobley
Hi Debra
If you could send me an email I would love a cutting. Thanks! flouronmyface@gmail.com
Arlene Mobley
Hi DebrahAnna
I am so sorry I thought I replied to your comment. I would love a couple of your rooted fig tree cuttings. Can you email me at flouronmyface@gmail.com and I will send you my address. Thanks!
Bea
Hey Arlene and DebrahAnna, I would absolutely love a cutting of the white fig so could you please send her a message for me. I use to have one in Louisiana but when I moved it didn't make the trip to North Carolina and I've just been sick about it. Thank you so much! I love your blog. When I make fig preserves I only use sugar and a bit of water..thanks again!!
Arlene Mobley
Hi Bea
I haven't heard back from DebrahAnna about the fig cutting : ( I am sorry to say. I did just buy a Olympian Fig tree at Lowes last week. I'll be growing it in a container for now. It would be exiting if I see a few figs on it this year!
Don Newkirk
I learned from my 91 year old mom who makes the best preserves I have ever eaten and I have eaten a heck of a lot. I have already put up about 15 quarts this year and in my own personal opinion, this recipe calls for entirely way too much sugar. To make six cups of figs, I only use about two cups of sugar at MOST, I slice a lemon up in small pieces and I do not add any lemon juice or margarine, I want fig preserves with a fig taste, not lemon preserves with too much of a lemon taste, my aunt use to use way too much lemon and they didn't taste near as good. I repeat, this is just my own personal opinion, I also add a few teaspoons of water to help create more juice so the figs don't dry out when in long storage. You can try it with this much sugar but I would suggest you also try it with about 1/3 what this recipe calls for. Good luck...
Arlene Mobley
Don
Thank so much for sharing your fig preserve tips!
Don Newkirk
That is just my own preference Arlene, I experimented around and found the amount of sugar added according to my own taste preference, I like sugar and a little lemon and cinnamon with my figs, not figs with my sugar and lemon...lol. Good luck and just experiment a little, it's fun.
Arlene Mobley
Don
Your recipe does sound very tasty!
Katheyn
I also add surachi sauce
Wondering
Just found jars of my moms homemade fig preserves...how long can you safely keep/eat them?
Don Newkirk
I have kept them in the f rig for three years and they are fine.
Arlene Mobley
Don wow that is a long time.
Don Newkirk
It is but they have to be sealed properly with no air between the fruit and lid. I kept mine in the frig though, don't know about keeping them in a pantry.
Wondering
Just found jars of my moms homemade fig preserves...how long can you safely keep and eat them?
Arlene Mobley
Homemade Jams and Jelly should be discarded after 1 year. After that it is no longer safe to consume.
BeBe
Oh..and btw...my Brown Turkey figs get that dark too.....some years darker than others...l think it is related to the amount of rainfall 🙂
BeBe
My Brown Turkey fig tree had so many figs last year l had to freeze them and l put them up in small batches....but l have never used butter in them...now l have to try this!!
Arlene Mobley
BeBe I would love to have a fig tree! Years ago I planted one but we had couple of hurricanes that year and it didn't make it. I always add a bit of butter or margarine when I am cooking my jams. It cuts way back on the foam.
Deb
Hate to be "that guy" but I am sure those are black mission figs.
Arlene Mobley
Deb thanks for pointing that out. The package said Brown Turkey figs.
Don Newkirk
Black missions seem darker, I would think they are most likely Brown Turkey's or the Texas everbeariing variety. I use those also but my favorite is the Alma fig, they are green up until they ripen then they turn yellow. They get dark spots but that doesn't hurt the taste or quality of the preserves. The small celeste are also very desirable and I have used those a lot. I love fig preserves, have all my life.
Arlene Mobley
Don
You are the second person to mention that. Could have been a mislabeling issue since that was what was on the package.
don newkirk
If you are referring to the figs in the photos, those look to me like Brown Turkeys. Just my opinion but black missions seem darker than those. I have a couple trees of the Brown Turkey that I harvest from and they look identical and about the size of a silver dollar or golf ball.
Chris
Wow! I love your idea of fig preserves. And I’m sure it tastes great on toast. and with some cream cheese? mamma mmmiaa!
Don Newkirk
Take a piece of fresh toast, put a little butter on it and then figs...you can't beat it, I eat it that way all the time.
Arlene Mobley
Dum yum that sounds perfect.
Don Newkirk
Food for the angels themselves Arlene.
Arlene Mobley
Don
I have to agree!
Miz Helen
Arlene,
Your Fig Preserves are just beautiful! I will sure be trying this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Arlene Mobley
Miz Helen
Thank you!
Barb @ A Life in Balance
I'd love to try this. I think figs wouldn't be terribly sweet making for a savory jam good for appetizers.
Thanks for linking up at Motivation Monday!
Ronda Waters
These look delicious! Makes me miss my grandmother! 🙂
Daphne
Good Evening Arlene, I adore figs and when I lived on the Island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean I had two fig trees in my garden, so I had an abundance of figs in October and November. Now that I live in England I have to buy figs from the market, so I have printed your recipe for Fig Preserve so that I am ready and waiting for the season to arrive. Although I will have to wait until the end of the year, I am definitely going to be enjoying Fig Preserve.
Thank you for your recipe I really can't wait to try it.
Best Wishes
Daphne
Arlene Mobley
Daphne
Thank you for visiting and saving the recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
April @ The 21st Century Housewife
I can think of so many ways to use your wonderful Fig Preserves! Your recipe sounds absolutely delicious - homemade preserves are always the best! Thank you for sharing this delicious homemade recipe with the Hearth and Soul hop
Arlene Mobley
April thank you! It tastes so good on vanilla ice cream.
Becky
We have a fig tree and I am always looking for another recipe to make with the fruit that it bares. Thanks for sharing this! If you are ever looking for another real food recipes linky, please join us at Tuesday Greens. I'd love to have you and hope that you have a great week!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you and you're welcome Becky.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
I've been wanting to make fig preserves!
Arlene Mobley
Erin
It turned out so good!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
How many pounds of figs do you think used?
Arlene Mobley
Erin
I am not sure how many pounds but I bought about 4 pints. I cut them up and measured them by the cup.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
Thanks!
Nora
All u have to do is wash ur figs, break off the stems and rinse well. Throw(any amount) in pot with as much sugar as u’d like. SUGAR is a natural preservative. U can add abt 1/4 cp. water. Cook on low heat until figs are the consistency you like. They become dark brown and Very soft like candied yams. If at this point, they don’t taste sweet enough, just add a little more sugar until you find it sweet enough. Figs also make their own juices. If you want them to make more of a thicker juice, cook a little longer. That’s all u need to do. I like mine with with extra fig juice, r u can call it a syrup, doesn’t matter, because I love fig sandwiches. I love my bread soaked with its juice. My Mother uses less water cuz she makes fig cakes. And this is the easiest and most delicious figs u will ever eat. U can put it in zip lock bags and freeze it up to a year, or u can put it in mason jars. When canning, put figs in jar, close tight and flip jar over on its lid. And ur done. Please don’t waste ur time putting lemons and other things cuz if u do, after a period of time ur figs will start tasting like lemons. It over powers the sweetness. So save ur self time and money and do it the Cajun way. I promise you won’t regret it....
don newkirk
Arlene...I just learned something that probably has a few people confused about fig preserves and fig jam. MY wife wanted to make some fig newtons so she bought a jar of jam and I ate a spoon of it, it was so sweet I couldn't eat anymore. I think when people use so much sugar in figs, they are actually making fig jam, not the preserves. I am diabetic so I have to watch my sugar intake, that is why I love my fig preserves so much and have gotten so many complements on them. For ten cups of figs, I only use between two and three cups of sugar, I add a diced up lemon with the pealing on it, (slice a lemon in1/4 inch slices then dice those slices up in smaller pieces) and then I normally add a couple tablespoons or so of cinnamon. I cook that at a medium low temp for about two hours or so, I sample it every few minutes to see if it has the texture and flavor I am desiring. You can thicken up the syrup by letting it cook longer, my mom does that occasionally. Might give this a try and see how it compares to what you made, no harm in experimenting around. I just don't like it when my figs turn into a jelly looking jam, have to watch how sweet I make it. Fig Jam taste too much like fig newtons, maybe that is why many I have spoken to don't like the newtons because of the extreme sweetness they claim they have. That is why I think many have fig preserves confused with fig jam. Jam is very seedy, preserves isn't. I am sure using freshly picked figs is different than buying store bought ones, figs need to ripen naturally on the tree, not in a bag. Hope this helps you out.
Arlene Mobley
Hi Don
Thank you for all of the fig preserving tips. I just saw figs in the grocery store so I may have to make a batch soon. Thanks!
Don Newkirk
Arlene...I noticed something about your figs in the photo, they have a wide white rim and then a pinkish cente. I have a tree I get a few figs off of and they look the identical same way and a lady at a large nursery in San Antonio told me they were Celeste figs. They are rather large figs, about the size of a golf ball or silver dollar. If your were that large, they very well could be these Celeste. Brown Turkey and Texas Everbearing are smaller, about the size of a quarter in diameter. There are so many types, I get confused. I took some cuttings off this light purple rather large fig tree and am going to try and start some new trees from this. This winter I will try a different method with the cuttings dormant. Hope it works, these are excellent figs with virthally completely closed up ends so no bugs or worms can get in. Have fun making fig preserves.
By the way, the more I look at those filled jars, the more they look like fig jam or jelly, not preserves. The jam is way too sweet for me.
Arlene Mobley
Don
I think you are right. The figs I bought were very large. You're making me want to go out and buy a fig tree!
dON newkirk
I presently have six trees Arlene, three each of the Alma and Celeste and a California Black Mission, I am trying to find one more and am looking for the largest variety I can find. I understand some get as large as tennis or hard balls, would love to find one of those. You know how we are in Texas about things being big...lol. I just think it would be neat to have a fig tree with figs as big as a hardball or your fist. Wouldn't take many to make a quart of preserves. I have access to lots of the Brown Turkey but am getting tired of those smaller figs.
Nora
I pick figs from trees that are my neighbors and some from my mother’s tree. They are different. Different types of fig trees. But all and all if you cook them the same way, they all come out delicious. I don’t like fig newtons very much. For those that can’t have too much sugar than by all means use less. It still all comes down to how sweet u like em!!!! I don’t make mine into a jam but i’m sure I could if I’d put them into a blender first r simply just cooking and smashing them in ur pot. There is no DIFFERENCE. All u need is figs (butter and water), or no butter . Some use brown sugar wht cinnamon. I prefer the figs natural flavor. And u can’t put a recipe on this. It’s too simple. Wash ur figs, put in pot, add sugar, a bit if water and cook slowly. You’ll get it right every time. Keep tasting as u go for sweetness. Some like a thick syrup, some don’t but please don’t put lemons cuz after a while, that lemony flavor will over ride ur sweet fig flavor. And remember, SUGAR is the only preservative u need. U can’t be beat with a simple fig recipe.
Arlene Mobley
Nora
Thank you for all of your fig preserving tips. I bought a fig tree this year and it has some figs on it already! Can't wait to pick my first fresh figs this summer.
Don Newkirk
Talk about weird, guess what I have been doing for the past four hours, yeah, putting up about ten pints of fig preserves made from my favorite fig, the Texas A&M Alma fig, I prefer them over any other. Just thought I'd throw that in since fig preserves is the topic here. I picked about two gallons of them earlier today.
Arlene Mobley
Don
I am jealous you have a fig tree that you can pick from!