Costa Rican Fig Preserves Recipe

I promise you, I was not planning on making this recipe. But then I went to Whole Foods because I needed to restock the pantry, and they had fresh figs right at the entrance of the store. I thought, "Ok, they have figs." Then I went to Costco, and they also had figs in their refrigerated section (it’s not technically a freezer, but it’s so cold you need a jacket in there!). Costco had a better deal, but I still decided not to get figs that day because I hadn’t planned on making anything with them. Watch video here.

The following day, I went to Trader Joe’s and OMG, they had like five different types of figs. That’s when I said, "Ok, this is a sign from the Universe that I have to make something with figs." And that’s how I ended up here, making Higos en miel, which translates to Fig Preserves.

This is the Costa Rican version of fig preserves. It’s not just figs and sugar, the combination of lemon, cinnamon, and the natural flavor of the figs makes this recipe so delicious that I can’t wait for you to try it at home. Make sure to tune in next week, because I’ll be making an amazing recipe that uses these fig preserves.

What is Fig Preserves?

A fig preserves is a sweet, thick mixture made by slowly cooking fresh figs with sugar (and often spices like cinnamon, cloves, or lemon peel) until they break down and release their natural juices, creating a flavorful syrup. The result is similar to a jam or marmalade, but preserves usually keep the fruit pieces more intact, so you still get bites of soft, caramelized figs in every spoonful.

They’re traditionally stored in jars and can be enjoyed on toast, with cheese, over desserts, or even in savory dishes. In Costa Rica, higos en miel (figs in syrup) is a classic homemade version that’s often made during fig season and enjoyed throughout the year.

They are also used in other pastry deliciousness, like a bread filled with fig preserves and pastry cream, the famous Costa Rican queque de higos, fig ice cream (helado de higos), and many more. And even though all those treats exist, Costa Ricans love to eat miel de higos or caramelized figs on their own, usually with a cup of coffee in the mid-afternoon, surrounded by family and friends. (Which is my favorite time of the day: coffee time 😉)

I will not be showing you in this video or blog how to can your preserves, since the amount I made was just enough for the next recipe I’m preparing. But if you harvest your own figs, you will probably need to can some because of the quantity you’ll be making. In that case, I suggest you watch a video on YouTube about canning, or leave me a comment letting me know if you’d like me to show you how to do it.

Ingredients for Your Fig Preserves

Remember, these are the ingredients I used, along with some substitutions you can try. Feel free to add or remove ingredients as you like (if the recipe allows it, of course).

🍈 Fresh Figs

I’m using black figs (Black Mission), but there’s a wide variety of figs out there. Some are green, brown, or black, and they come in different shapes and sizes, some are big and round, while others are smaller and more elongated around the neck. They all taste like figs, but at the same time, each variety has its own unique flavor. Some are sweet and jammy, with notes of honey, berries, dates, or melons.

You can use whichever type is available to you. The only suggestion is to keep an eye on the cooking time. If your figs are not fully ripe, they’ll be a bit firmer, and you’ll need to extend the cooking time.

🍬 Brown Sugar

To make an authentic Costa Rican fig preserve, I would have used tapa de dulce, which is the equivalent of brown sugar over there. It’s definitely not the same. Tapa de dulce is a type of raw sugar, while brown sugar is regular sugar mixed with molasses. But honestly, since I was not planning to make this recipe, I didn’t have tapa de dulce in my pantry and didn’t feel like waiting for it to be delivered from Amazon (find the link here). So I substituted it with brown sugar, and let me tell you, the flavor and final result were just as good as with tapa de dulce.

If you don’t have regular brown sugar, you can add some molasses to white sugar, and it will taste delicious. Regular sugar on its own will also work and still be delicious.

🍋Lemon Juice or Rind

Both bring that touch of acidity to the recipe, and they both also act as a natural preservative. You can use either one, but I like using the rind because the oils in the peel add a more concentrated aroma and flavor that’s often sweeter and more intense than the juice. Whether you use the juice or the rind, both will help your fig preserves last longer.

🧂 Seasonings

Here we add the cinnamon, vanilla extract, cloves, and a little bit of salt. You could skip any or all of them, but adding them won’t add any calories and will bring lots of flavor to your fig preserves. The salt won’t make it salty, but it will accentuate the flavors and help everything blend beautifully.

I like using cinnamon sticks, but you can use ground cinnamon if you prefer. It’s one of those ingredients I suggest not skipping, because it adds a warm, comforting flavor that makes this recipe extra delicious.

You can also experiment with other seasonings like nutmeg, cardamom, or star anise to give your fig preserves a special flavor twist