Old Fashioned Southern Style Fig Preserves is a recipe post by Mom Loves Baking.
A Special Gift
My uncle Larry gave me two jars of his homemade Old Fashioned Southern Style Fig Preserves for Christmas and I couldn't have been more excited. You can't buy it in the store. And he even grew the figs himself!
A Family Tradition
Fig preserves remind me of my grandmother. As a kid, every time I went to her house (in Ozark, Alabama), she would have fig preserves in her refrigerator which we would spread over toast for breakfast. They were always made by my aunt Corinne who lived across the street. Aunt Corinne made them every single year and they were always so delicious. She made them with whole figs which came from my grandparents fig tree in their backyard.
Whole Fig Preserves
What's unique about these fig preserves is that it uses WHOLE figs. They are not mashed up or pureed like jam. But in the cooking process, they get really soft and are completely spreadable. When serving, you just spoon a few figs onto your buttered toast and spread them around with your knife. It's very easy to spread and tastes SO good!
Sweet Memories
My grandparents passed away in the late 1980s and then aunt Corinne in the mid 1990s (she was 92). I miss them a lot. Here I am with my grandparents when I was in high school. They were the sweetest people! That's why it was so special that my uncle Larry took the time to make his own homemade Old Fashioned Southern Style Fig Preserves and share some with me. I got to have my morning toast with those wonderful fig preserves every day from Christmas to New Years! And what sweet memories they brought!
Here's Aunt Corinne and Uncle Larry in her kitchen back in the 1980s. I wonder what they were making that day. Looks like hoe cakes. But that's another blog post. Stay tuned.
An Heirloom Recipe
I actually have a copy of aunt Corinne's vintage recipe which I'm including in this post (see photo below). It's a little hard to read so I typed it out below (simply adding the basic ingredients at the top, plus lemon slices which Larry added).
My Uncle Larry is not only a talented maker of fig preserves, he is also an accomplished author, publisher and the best storyteller I know! I always look forward to his entertaining stories when I'm lucky enough to see him. He's in Mississippi and we are in Georgia. Scroll down to see his bio.
Here's the recipe for Old Fashioned Southern Style Fig Preserves:
Old Fashioned Southern Style Fig Preserves
Ingredients
- 1 gallon Figs
- Sugar equal amounts sugar/figs
- Water enough to cover figs in pot
- Lemon slices Enough to have one slice per jar
Instructions
- Try to select figs of equal ripeness. Wash.
- Cut stems a wee bit around, do not expose inside of figs. If extra ripe, don’t worry, just get stem.
- Sugar is measure for measure but I like it rounded for figs. So not quite equal measure.
- Put sugar over figs (and lemon slices). Cover. Put aside until morning. (If you cook right away keep your heat low to begin with.) (Water added here.) Water different for juice. I’d say if over night, it will turn into juice so you won’t add much then. If cooking right away, try ¼ measured to fig measure. I like to have juice to cover figs in jars. Left over juice can be used for another cooking of figs.
- Cook slowly. Makes better figs & syrup. Might be longer cooking. You judge by your syrup thickness. Keep boiling gently. Your bubbles will show a good syrup. Little water can be added if juice gets low. Sometimes 2 or so hours. Try a fig.
- Put in jars but don’t seal. Place in hot water bath. Cook until sealed. Will Pop.
Notes
Nutrition
Larry also used another recipe for reference called Old Fashioned Fig Preserves by the Bayou Woman.
Lawrence Wells is a co-founder and publisher of Yoknapatawpha Press, an independent press since 1976 in Oxford, MS. His first project there was to edit a photo-biography William Faullkner: The Cofield Collection, which the New York Times named one of the top 10 gift books of 1978. He is co-founder and publisher of The Faulkner Newletter and co-founder of the "Faux Faulkner" parody contest. Wells was awarded the 2014 Faulkner-Wisdom prize for narrative non-fiction at the Words and Music Festival in New Orleans. In 1994 he wrote an Emmy-winning PBS documentary "Return to the River." He has contributed articles to American Way, Southwest Spirit, Art and Antiques and the New York Times Syndicate. He also is the author of two novels, Rommel and the Rebel and Let the Band Play Dixie.
Few more photos...
A young and beautiful Aunt Corinne.
My grandparents' house in Ozark, AL with a fig tree in the backyard.
If you like this recipe for Old Fashioned Southern Style Fig Preserves, use the image below to pin on Pinterest.
Sharine Carter says
I lam making figs preserves for the first time and I want to know what do the lemons do and do you have to us them
Mary Strickland says
I am very excited to use this recipe , I am from SC and my mom made fig preserves every year and we enjoyed all year long. It seems like we never ran out until time to make more. My son just brought me a gallon bag and I’m looking forward to using this recipe! I also loved your story and reading peoples comments. Thank you so much for sharing! PS I looked no farther
Myra Mayo Young says
How lovely to find this recipe. I come from a long line of fig preserve makers. My mother was raised in Ariton, AL, close to Ozark. This recipe is almost exactly like hers. My grandmother also taught me to make muscadine jelly. They had a huge vine that went way up in a big tree. We would lay a sheet down and shake the vine a few times and have enough to make jelly. When my husband and I bought our house, I immediately planted grapes and a fig tree. We're now getting more figs than we can use. Thanks so much for your story, also. Brings back many nice memories.
Lise Ode says
Hi Myra, I love hearing from readers that have an Ozark connection. So glad you enjoyed the recipe and the muscadine jelly sounds so interesting. I've never heard of it.
Carol Mixon says
If figs have been in fridge do I put them back in there to sit overnight or leave on counter?
Lise Ode says
I think the counter is fine.
Betty M Smith says
Ousted
Sandy says
When do you add the lemon?
Lise Ode says
In the beginning, I just adjusted the recipe. Sorry.
tom I clarke says
I have been trying to emulate my mom's fig preserves, but it's a long road of trial and error. Her figs were "candied" and none of the recipes I try match the figs I grew up with. Mom had to cook for a family of eleven, and nothing was written on paper. When she passed away back in 1996, a generation of knowledge died with her. I have my own fig trees now (more than I need, actually), and I am gathering my figs on a daily basis and freezing them until I m ready to can them. I have no doubt they will be "candied" when I am finished.
Betty McGuffin Smith says
Your recipes for those old fashion seven big preserves was just absolutely wonderful I was exactly like I remembered my mother cooking her pictures she and Papa I had a great big fig tree right beside the bedroom window at their house in Jacksonville Florida and I just remember picking the figs and trying to keep the birds away from them thank you so much for the recipe I’ve been using one cup of sugar 1 cup of figs sort of but I’ve been adding a little water as you suggested which keeps it from getting too thick. Sometimes I want to get about a dozen figs off the little fig tree at my senior apartment building where I live in Jacksonville Beach I’m 91 now but I cook them whenever I get enough to make a jar I have to shower thank you so much and bless your hearts all of you I grew up in Spartanburg South Carolina where they had pigs right outside grandpa’s house and a great big giant tree thank you for the memories Betty McGuffin Smith
Lise Ode says
Hi Betty, Thank you for your sweet comments and for sharing your special memories of fig preserves. I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Zandi Foss says
I was browsing the internet looking for a recipe to make fig preserves like my grandmother used to and I just so happened to run across this one and got so excited. . I was born and raised here in Ozark. I loved the stories and pictures and I look forward to trying out this recipe. Thank you!
Margaret Byrd says
I i had a wonderful surprise this am when I was checking out different fig preserve recipes! i found YOU!!! I grew up in Ozark, Corinne was my second grade teacher and Dorothy was my piano teacher. This brought back so many fond memories. I took piano lessons from Dorothy until I graduated from high school. I knew Larry had become a well known writer. Of course, he was a little boy when I last saw him. I will be 85 in October and have ended up back in Ozark these past few years. I raised my family in Orlando, Fla. and in Huntsville, Alabama. This recipe is almost exactly like the one my step-mother made when I was a child. I’ll be making it today as our figs are ready. Thanks for such a nice trip down memory lane.
Lise Ode says
Hi Margaret, How wonderful to meet you via the internet! I'm so happy that you found this recipe and a connection to your childhood. Ozark holds a special place in my heart. I'll tell my mom and Larry that you commented. Good luck on the preserves! With love, Lise
Anita Coleman says
I'm not the one you're asking but my mama told me to 1qt of figs put 2 cups of sugar. Just made some and delicious! 👍
Shannon Jordan says
I loved your story, so sweet with pics of those beautiful grandparents! It was very inspiring to hear about good, close families. Of course, the figs are certainly important! Thanks for your contribution!
Lise Ode says
Thank you for reading and thank you for your sweet comments which are so appreciated!
Vicki says
Found your post from here in Oxford MS looking for a good old fashioned recipe for fig preserves. These preserves look so good! Hotty Toddy!
Lise Ode says
Hi Vicki! Hope you enjoy the recipe and the fig preserves!
Cindy Wilkerson says
When do you put lemon slices in figs and what is the purpose
Sarah says
My figs are just ripe, and I'm so excited to try this recipe! One question- is the "equal measure" of sugar by weight or by volume (so the same weight as a gallon of figs, or 16 cups)? Thanks in advance!
Sara says
Sweet figs & sweet memories definitely:) Love this post
Mom Loves Baking says
Thank you! Sweet memories indeed. xoxo
Sheri says
I was searching for some ways to make fig preserves.My neighbor has some and has welcomed me to come and pick all I want.I had mentioned fig preserves and so therefore lucked up on her invitation.
Your Uncles writting skills seem to have passed to you as well.I truly enjoyed your blog.
I am a Georgia girl myself and I even had an Uncle Larry who was an awesome cook.Thanks for contributing to my wonderful walk down memory lane and more so inspiring me to try my hand at my first fig preserves.- Your neighbor- Sheri
Thomasine says
I just went online to find a recipe for fig preserves like those I had my whole life at my grandmother’s house in Ozark AL. Imagine my surprise at your post! Thank you so much! A friend in New Orleans just gave me a shopping bag of figs. Is that house on Broad St.?
Lise Ode says
Hello! What a small world, right? My grandparents' house was on Eufaula street, right around the corner from Broad Street. What's your grandmother's name? Did she go to the Methodist church? I love hearing from Ozark folks. What a special little town. I love it so much!
CC Davis says
Wonderfully written Sara. You brought back Fig Preserve memories to me. My grandparents lived in Hacoda, Alabama near the Florida line near Florala and would spend every summer up there from Orlando on their farm. We helped grandma make the fig preserves exactly the way your family did! Thanks for the memories!!
Lise Ode says
Thank you both for sharing your special fig preserve memories! xo, Lise