It's Fig Season! Try These 15 Desserts We Love

By Hally Wolhandler
Updated September 16, 2020
Rosemary, Honey, and Fig Cake

Honey sweetens the cake and also serves as a lustrous, sticky glaze for the fig topping, which is simply fresh figs.

Get the recipe! »

[Photograph: María del Mar Sacasa]

. María del Mar Sacasa

Summer may be ending, but fig season is peaking and we're making everything from Honey-Poached Figs to Fig Bars with Thyme. Here are 15 of our favorite sweet fig recipes—they're gorgeous, and perfect for this time of year.

Go Straight to the Recipes

  • Fig and Walnut Biscotti
  • Fig, Raspberry and Lemon Jam
  • Fennel Fig Quick Bread
  • Make Your Own Fig Newtons
  • Nick Malgieri's Sicilian Fig Bars
  • Higos en Miel (Poached Figs)
  • The World's Second-Easiest Fig Dessert
  • Fig, Phyllo, Honey Breakfast Stacks
  • Fine Cooking's Fig Bars with Thyme
  • David Lebovitz's Fresh Fig Ice Cream
  • Fig Tart
  • Rosemary, Honey, and Fig Cake
  • Torta de Higos (Fig Torte)
  • Grilled Fig Sundaes with Balsamic "Fudge"

    Fig Yogurt Bundt Cake

  • Fresh Fig and Hazelnut Tart

    Rosemary, Honey, and Fig Cake

    Rosemary, Honey, and Fig Cake
    Honey sweetens the cake and also serves as a lustrous, sticky glaze for the fig topping, which is simply fresh figs. Get the recipe! » [Photograph: María del Mar Sacasa]. María del Mar Sacasa

    Honey sweetens the cake and also serves as a lustrous, sticky glaze for the fig topping, which is simply fresh figs.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fine Cooking's Fig Bars with Thyme

    Fine Cooking's Fig Bars with Thyme
    Maren Caruso

    Even if you're not usually a fan of the Newton, these Fig Bars with Thyme just might help you learn to love the figgy cookie. We plan on packing them in our last picnic basket of the season.

    Get the recipe! »

    Nick Malgieri's Sicilian Fig Bars

    Nick Malgieri's Sicilian Fig Bars
    Charles Schiller

    Although fig bars are standard American fare, fig-filled cookies are also very traditional in Sicily, where they are called cucidati. But no matter what their name, these hearty cookies are delicious.

    Get the recipe! »

    Higos en Miel (Poached Figs)

    Higos en Miel (Poached Figs)
    María del Mar Sacasa

    The figs, those delicate purses lined with precious beads, are gently peeled and drowned in simple syrup. This dish is nice on its own or accompanied by a scoop of good vanilla ice cream.

    Get the recipe! »

    Torta de Higos (Fig Torte)

    Torta de Higos (Fig Torte)
    María del Mar Sacasa

    Brush this cake with some fig syrup so it soaks up the sweetness, top it with a less rigid custard, and of course, crown the torte with a generous amount of figs.

    Get the recipe! »

    The World's Second-Easiest Fig Dessert

    The World's Second-Easiest Fig Dessert
    Carolyn Cope

    Fire up the broiler, add a touch of vanilla and honey to your fig halves, and in ten minutes you'll have a sweet little treat on your hands. They'll be practically naked, yet delicately enhanced.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fig, Raspberry and Lemon Jam

    Fig, Raspberry and Lemon Jam
    Lucy Baker

    The robust flavors of this jam pair perfectly with hearty, flavorful breads like cornbread or crusty sour dough. You could also serve it as a seasonal accompaniment to oatmeal scones or bran muffins.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fig, Phyllo, Honey Breakfast Stacks

    Fig, Phyllo, Honey Breakfast Stacks
    Carrie Vasios

    In this easy yet elegant breakfast dish, stacks of phyllo dough are filled with Greek yogurt and sliced figs then drizzled with honey.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fennel Fig Quick Bread

    Fennel Fig Quick Bread
    Carrie Vasios

    This quick bread is all about the pairing of figs and fennel: The figs add a deep fruity sweetness while the fennel seeds add a mellow licorice flavor. Together, they're a refined, Italian-inspired breakfast sweet.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fig Tart

    Fig Tart
    Ben Fink

    Make no mistake, summer is nearly over. Give the end of the season its proper goodbye with something stunning in both appearance and flavor.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fig Yogurt Bundt Cake

    Fig Yogurt Bundt Cake
    Carrie Vasios

    This bundt cake is just asking to come to your next brunch. It's rich, vanilla-y crumb is packed with diced figs. Best of all? Because the Greek yogurt keeps the cake moist for days, you can make it ahead.

    Get the recipe! »

    Grilled Fig Sundaes with Balsamic "Fudge"

    Grilled Fig Sundaes with Balsamic 'Fudge'
    Leo Gong

    Make this dish before you retire your grill for the season. The sweet-sour balsamic fudge really elevates the flavor of the figs.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fig Newtons

    Fig Newtons
    Sarah Jane Sanders

    You may make these yourself, but the result is 100% Newton.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fresh Fig Ice Cream

    Fresh Fig Ice Cream
    Lara Hata

    It's hard to think of a way to improve upon the sweet, nectarlike flavor of fresh figs—except, perhaps, to churn them into ice cream.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fig and Walnut Biscotti

    Fig and Walnut Biscotti
    Carrie Vasios

    These beautifully golden and crisp biscotti make use of a classic pairing: figs and walnuts. The fruit adds a plummy flavor and slight chew while the walnuts add nuttiness and crunch.

    Get the recipe! »

    Fresh Fig and Hazelnut Tart

    Fresh Fig and Hazelnut Tart
    Lauren Weisenthal

    This tart brings fresh figs and hazelnuts together with a crumbly crust for a delightful combination of flavor and texture.

    Get the recipe! »

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