10 fig desserts to try this autumn
Celebrate the delicious fig, a seasonal autumn fruit, with these sweet and spiced desserts. From fig cakes to tarts, desserts for one to a crowd – we have it all
Fresh figs are around from August through to early October. While they are not a juicy fruit, they are jammy with a delicate aroma and a sweet taste.
We have gathered our best fig desserts for you to try this autumn, everything from easy puddings for one that can be ready in under five minutes to elaborate bakes to impress guests at festive occasions and parties.
To read up on the health benefits of figs, check out our helpful guide. You can find more information about the health benefits of different autumnal fruit in our health hub.
Check out our guide on the top 12 ways to serve figs for sweet and savoury inspiration on how best to prepare your figs.
We also have many more recipes to choose from in our fig collection.
1. Fig sponge pudding
Sponge pudding gets taken up a level with the addition of delicious baked figs and thyme, resulting in a seriously comforting wintry dessert. Serve warm with cream, ice cream or Greek yogurt.
Discover more sponge pudding recipes.
2. Sticky cinnamon figs
This simple, two-step fig dessert can be ready in only 10 minutes. It's a great pudding after a heavy meal as it's not overly filling. The butter and honey mixture makes a lovely sweet and salted sauce and the pistachios add a nutty, buttery flavour.
Check out these pistachio recipes, from flavoured cakes and ice creams to pretty toppings, for further inspiration.
3. Fig & raspberry crumble cake
This easy-to-make fig & raspberry crumble cake is full of juicy fruit. Adding yogurt to the cake mix makes for a beautifully moist texture. It's perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea, but can stand alone as a centrepiece to end a lovely family lunch.
Crumbles make a great dessert all year round, so check out our crumble recipes for inspiration on traditional bakes and modern twists like our peanut butter berry crisp crumble.
4. Spiced fig, coffee & hazelnut cake
This sophisticated cake is gently spiced and full of treacly flavours from dried figs and muscovado sugar, finished with soft cheese icing. Decorate with halved or quartered figs and a drizzle of caramel for an impressive but easy finish.
If you want a more traditional coffee cake, check out our coffee cake recipes – there's something for everyone.
5. Frangipane, fig & orange tart
Treat guests over for Christmas to this frangipane, fig & orange tart. It's delicious at the end of a family feast or served for afternoon tea. If you want to cut a few corners with this recipe, use shop-bought pastry. However, to impress your guests, try elevating your homemade pastry with orange zest and vanilla extract.
For more deliciously nutty ideas, check out our frangipane recipes.
6. Honey-roasted fig & almond tart
This sweet and fruity pud can be made using under ten ingredients. Serve it warm with either cream or ice cream for a lovely combination of temperatures. Save time and effort by using a shop-bought pastry case.
If you enjoyed this tart, why not try one of our other sweet tart recipes – the perfect dessert for entertaining guests.
7. Spiced baked figs with ginger mascarpone
The spiced baked figs with ginger mascarpone are a great end to a dinner party. Spiced with cinnamon, orange and star anise, they are sophisticated while also remaining fuss-free as they can be on the table in under half an hour.
Find more sweet, sticky treats and hot tangy savouries with our ginger recipes. Also read up on the many health benefits of ginger.
8. Fudgy fig roll
Upgrade your ordinary swiss roll using bananas and figs. Pour boiling water over the figs to soften them before adding them to mashed bananas. This mixture is then combined with meringue to create a beautifully flavoured roll which is then filled with a cream and fig jam or conserve filling.
If this was a success with the family, we have many more where that came from, check out our swiss roll recipes.
9. Honeyed almond figs
If you fancy a sweet treat at the end of your meal-for-one, then try these simple honeyed almond figs. It can be ready in only three minutes.
10. Fig & honey Christmas cake
Indulge in the warm, comforting flavours of the holiday season with our fig & honey Christmas cake. This delightful bake is a symphony of rich ingredients that combine to create a true masterpiece of festive baking. It’s great for serving a crowd during the festive season as it can make enough for eight to ten people and is freezable, so you can make it ahead to avoid hassle.
Celebrate Christmas the right way with more of our must-have Christmas cake recipes.
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