Crockpot Fig butter… Yum Yum!
wash and stem figs
My friend at work has the joy of having a fig tree at her disposal and was nice enough to share a couple small bags with me. Growing up in the North figs were not part of our yearly diet but since moving to the south we have fallen in love with their sweet juicy treat.
I had wanted to try fig preserves but decided on trying fig butter instead. Little did I know finding a recipe would be so difficult. After hours of searching and call to my mother, for some canning advice, I finally decided if I wanted to make fig butter I would have to create a recipe myself. I spent some time reading fruit butter recipes online and finally got tired of searching and shut my laptop and went to work.
Both Craig and I are very happy with the results and my daughter even tried to sneak a jar in her pocket the other day after she tried it. Couldn’t get my grandson to try it but I remember as a kid I didn’t like apple butter so I can appreciate his apprehension. He will learn as he gets older his taste buds will change so at one point he will love fruit butters.
Crockpot Fig Butter
6 cups figs with stems removed
3 / 4 cup sweet white wine
3 /4 cup honey
1 / 2 T lemon juice
2 t vanilla
1 t cinnamon
Add everything to a 2 quart crockpot and cook on high for 2 hours. Using a large spoon or potato masher, mash figs until all whole figs are broken down.
Crack the lid to let the steam escape and turn crockpot down to low and continue to cook for 6 – 8 hours.
Fill hot jars with butter and hot water bath them for 10 minutes.
one of my favorite sweet wines...I had to have a glass while I was at it
honey adds such a nice flavor and its a healthy choice
throughout the crockpot stage mash figs to get a nice even butter
remember to crack the lid to let the steam escape
hot water bath for 10 minutes
was great on toast but can't wait to try it on a biscuit
The only problem with this recipe is it only made 4 – 8oz jelly jars and it will be long gone before winter even sets in.
I’ve tried your recipe & its great!!! I was curious to know if you’ve had it submitted thru the usda? The reason I’m asking is, not to be offensive, but I’m extremely new to canning & really don’t know alot about it. I am planning on giving this to my family as a gift, around christmas. Please let me know sometime soon.
Celeste,
I am glad you liked the fig butter. No I have not submitted it to the USDA but as long as you be sure you give it its 10 minute hot water bath and you have a good seal you will be fine. I have been canning for years and this recipe is a typical fruit butter recipe with the ending hot water bath. Enjoy!
I apologize for my ignorance. This question came after a friend & I decided to learn how to can, by ourselves. She started memorizing the USDA guidelines & insisted that I ask this question. I felt so ridiculous to ask too. She was freaked out about it after she saw that figs were considered a low acid food & swore that I should throw them out. I disagreed with her & tried to tell her that there was enough acid in the recipe for it to be fine. & we’ve had this debate ever since. Thank u so much for your patience. I really appreciate it. & I’m pleased to tell u that I haven’t thrown out any of it. Lol. The recipe is amazing, by the way, & I’m planning on using it for Brie en croute. Again, I’m so sorry if any of what I said offended u. And thank u, again.
Hi there! I am sooo excited to try this recipe (I have a back yard fig tree with more figs than I know what to do with!) before I started, I was wondering if there is something I could substitute the wine with? Any ideas?
Thanks!
Thanks for the recipe! I bought some fig butter at Trader
Joes the other day and made some yummy Fig Butter Almond Cookies with it (Gluten Free and Vegan too!) I posted the recipe here:
http://veganbakerista.blogspot.com/2011/10/fig-butter-almond-cookies.html
Your recipe looks wonderful and easy! I’ll have to try it once figs are plentiful again.
Just wanted to share my amazing find! Brie en croute, using the fig butter!!! Omg!! Heaven!!! Thank u for this spectacular recipe!!
That sounds wonderful! YUM YUM
Hooray! We have FIVE fig trees in our backyard and I have had no idea what to do with them.I look forward to fighting them birds for them this summer.
)Question though…how does one give a hot water bath? Can I just set them down in a deep pot with boiling water? I new to this culinary gig.
Chara I recommend you find a good canning book…I have the one from Ball. It explains everything you need to know about canning and hot water baths. I would try to explain it to you but the Ball Canning book really does a great job.
Enjoy your figs!
What’s the title? I am having a hard time finding it. Is the author Ball?
It is called: Ball Blue Book – Guide to Home Canning, Freezing & Dehydration. I see it on Amazon and here is the link. I would highly recommend it I have used it as a guide for many years.
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Canning-Freezing-Dehydration-Volume/dp/B000F1H4EO
Chara,
The ball blue book is awesome. I have a huge fig tree in our yard & this is my first year to can. i started with the ball blue book. it is sold at walmart & other stores that carry ball canning supplies. every day or so i’m picking 2 batches of figs. so far, i’ve made jam, figs in lite syrup, & pickled figs. Today i’m doing drunken fig jam, i found on the internet. i can’t wait to try this recipe, maybe tomorrow. If you haven’t gotten the ball blue book, it’s worth getting. enjoy!.
I have a friend who gives me figs since we are still trying to get on to grow. The first one got hit by the lawn mower and the next one just never took off. We are going to try one more time but until then I will rely on my friends tree to provide me my yearly figs.
When you say 1/2 T. Do you mean 1/2 teaspoon or 1/2 tablespoon? Thanks for the clarification.
T=Tablespoon
t-teaspoon
Sorry it took so long to answer I was on vacation and am just getting back to my blog.
Enjoyed reading your recipe regarding Figs. What can I use in place of wine?
I would use white grape juice. Enjoy
Can you freeze the butter instead of canning?
I just found you recipe and can’t wait to try it. We have a fairly new fig tree that is producing well this year. My daughter has one that over produces so I will be picking from her tree as well. I have made fig jam but was looking for a butter recipe, I like the one I purchased at Trader Joes so much I wanted to be able to make my own. Thanks for making this available. Have you tried making the recipe substituting apple or white grape juice for the wine? Wine or juice is fine with me but I was wondering.
Judi,
I have not tried it with the white grape juice but I am sure it would work just fine. I have tried to grow a fig tree for 3 years now and I just can’t get one going…but I am not giving up yet!
Hi Tracy,
I just found your blog and fig recipe… YUMMM!!! I was wondering if you ever add pectin to this recipe? Is it necessary? And how much butter do you add and what kind? Our neighbor gave us Adriatic figs and I can’t wait to get started.
Thanks so much!
Venus,
You would not need to add pectin to this since it cooks down and thicken all by itself. Just be sure to crack the lid so the steam escapes and it will cook down nice.
OH.MY.GOODNESS.
Tracy, the recipe is awesome! I made it over night and waking up to the smell of figs was glorious! I blogged about it. Please check it out when you have a chance. Thank you so much for sharing this. I will keep this forever!
http://www.suburbia-soup.com/2012/09/fig-butter.html
I am so glad you liked it! We loved it and it really tasted good in the middle of winter on a nice buttery biscuit. Thanks for sharing it on your blog!
Unfortunately I do not own a crock pot. Is it possible to do this on the stove in a pot?
Amy …yes you can cook it in your oven just as easy. If I was cooking it down in my oven I would set my oven temp to 300. I am not sure how long it is going to take to cook but I have cooked down apple butter many times in the oven and not in a crock pot. I would stir and check in every hour until you get it to the thickness you want.
Let me know how you make out.