2021 sucked, we can all agree on that. I hardly watch the news anymore, I’m tired of screaming politicians and headlines that are sometimes unbelievable. So I try to live with less, relax more, and try not to worry about things that are completely out of my control. So far, in my retirement, with the “own less and do less” motto, I pretty much have that covered.
Bourbon figs, a cozy winter dessert for adults:
Bourbon figs, yogurt cream, and salted caramel sauce; a simple cozy adult winter dessert that does not sacrifice flavor. The best way to really find out what the Bourbon marinated fig recipe is all about is to make it and enjoy it. The yogurt cream is wonderfully rich and has a nice refreshing tang that goes well with the bourbon marinated figs.
We always have a bag of dried figs at home:
My wife loves them and there is a steady supply in our pantry. I’ve never been a big fan of fresh or dried figs unless they are marinated in Bourbon. Marinating figs in Bourbon is a game-changer. Depending on how much syrup you discharge before you add the Bourbon, you can make the recipe as mellow or as bourbon heavy as you like. If you are a fig and Bourbon lover, I really don’t have to explain how Bourbon marinated figs, salted caramel sauce, and whipped yogurt cream taste.
Fruit + Sugar + Alcohol:
The longer the figs sit in the Bourbon syrup, the more flavor they develop. However, the longer they sit the further the figs will break down; so try and use the fruit within approximately three months time. Preserving dried figs in alcohol is quite easy to do and produces an outcome we all love – boozy fruit & infused spirits. The high alcohol and sugar content acts as a preservative, minimizing spoilage. When we use alcohol to preserve fruit we clearly don’t want to use alcohol that is too strong. Our main concern is to keep the fruit from spoiling and make sure it tastes good too. Most store-purchased spirits are more than strong enough to preserve fruit. Brandy, whisky, gin, and vodka at around 40% alcohol by volume have the perfect balance of preserving power, as well as flavor. Especially when combined with the fruit.
Sterilize the Jars:
Please, do not ignore an important factor, and be sure to use a clean sterilized jar for preserving and storing the bourbon figs. Sterilizing jars is easy. Place jars and lids in a deep saucepan, add water, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil for 10 minutes. Line a baking tray with a paper towel or cloth towel. Carefully remove the jars and place them on the tray. Allow to air-dry or pat dry with a clean paper towel or cloth.
Why make a gift rather than buy it?
No matter how you look at it, eating is a major part of our lives. This is one of the many reasons food items are such a great gift. So long as you’ve taken the recipient’s food preferences and allergies into account, you can guarantee they’ll enjoy the gift you give them. Creating an edible gift is more personal than running to a store to purchase a bottle of wine. Most of the time it’s cheaper than buying from a store and it means so much more. The Bourbon figs are a hit. A mindful, seasonal gift that can be gifted any time throughout the year.
Old Fashioned and Bourbon infused Fig Syrup:
Strain some of the infused Bourbon fig syrup with a fine-mesh strainer. Your infused Bourbon fig syrup is the perfect ingredient for an Old Fashioned.
Just add a splash of the wonderful syrup and spice up your Old-Fashioned. FYI, there is no need to use a top-shelf bourbon for the infusion. Enjoy!
Mise en place:
Mise en place is a French phrase that means to gather and arrange the ingredients and tools needed for cooking. In most professional kitchens, it’s all about order and organization. So Mise en place is something that has its benefits with any recipe and cooking. Gather or Mise en place the ingredients for the marinated bourbon figs 1 or 2 days ahead. Store the Bourbon marinated figs in a cool, dark place for at least 1 day. The longer you marinate the figs, the more flavor they will have.
The Butter Book Salted Caramel Sauce:
Making salted caramel sauce is not a complex process. The salted caramel sauce is another great, simple recipe from Jacquy Pfeiffer, featured in his online “The Butter Book” pastry school. A traditional recipe, that’s easy to follow and requires little more than 4 common ingredients: heavy cream, sour cream or cream Fraiche, sea salt, and granulated sugar. The sauce is easy to cook and so much better than the store-purchased product.
The Butter Book salted caramel sauce is sweet, sticky, nutty, and tastes so good. Perfect for milkshakes, dessert toppings, coffee drinks, brownies, or ice cream toppings. Sea salt gives a distinctive taste. It balances the sweetness, making this the best-salted caramel sauce ever. Most caramel sauces are cooked with butter, adding butter reminds me very much of a butterscotch sauce, which is a great sauce but just too buttery for me.
Bourbon Figs, Yogurt Cream, and Salted Caramel Sauce
The Taste
The amazing flavor of the tangy yogurt cream with marvelously plump and tender figs,
marinated in sweet alcoholic syrup does not disappoint.
The Proces
Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated and overwhelming.
The recipe is as easy as it gets and has a very rewarding flavor.
The Verdict
A simple cozy adult winter dessert that does not sacrifice flavor.
As a bonus, your infused Bourbon fig syrup is the perfect enhancement for an Old Fashioned.
The Bourbon figs are not only a mindful seasonal gift, they can be gifted any time throughout the year.
Bourbon Figs, Yogurt Cream, Salted Caramel Sauce
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
Make the Yogurt Cream
- 3 ounces whipping cream
- 5 ounces yogurt 2 %
Marinate the Figs
- 1 cup Bourbon
- 12 each dried figs
- 3 ounces salted caramel sauce
- 1 quart water
- 16 ounces sugar granulated
Instructions
Make the Figs
- Bring 1 quart of water, in which the sugar has been dissolved, to a boil. Add the figs, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.16 ounces sugar, 1 quart water
- Drain half the sugar water and add the Bourbon, bring to a short boil, and then cool to room temperature. Pour figs and bourbon mixture into a large mason jar and cover with a lid. Let the mixture steep at least 1 day before serving, however, it's recommended to steep for 5 days to reach full flavor.1 cup Bourbon
Make the Yogurt cream
- In a mixing bowl with the whisk attachment, whip heavy cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add yogurt and whisk until smooth and hard peaks form.3 ounces whipping cream, 5 ounces yogurt
Serve the Bourbon Figs
- Plate the yogurt cream, drizzle with the Bourbon fig marinade, marinated figs, salted caramel sauce, and fresh seasonal fruit.3 ounces salted caramel sauce
Chef Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate