10 Fresh Fig Recipes to Make This Season From savory pizza to fancy snacks, these fresh fig recipes highlight the best of this summer delicacy. Close Fresh figs are a versatile and surprising delicacy that adds flavor to savory salads, snacks, and appetizers, and brings complexity to easy or slow-cooked entrées. Pounce on ripe figs when you see them and use them quickly since they don't ripen at home. Look for smooth, plump specimens when you shop; wrinkling or stickiness indicates over-ripeness, and an underripe fig will feel woody. Store them for up to two days in the refrigerator, covered, in a single layer. Read on for our favorite fresh fig recipes. They'll inspire delicious dishes and desserts to come. Black Mission (black skin with pink flesh) and Calimyrna (pale yellow skin with pink flesh) figs are commonly sold in grocery stores in the late summer and early fall. Calimyrnas are often labeled as Turkish figs. 30 Cakes With Fruit Fillings and Toppings for Every Occasion 01 of 10 Figs and Prosciutto Credit: Kirsten Strecker A classic that will never grow old, sweet figs and salty prosciutto make the quickest and most eye-catching of appetizers or light lunches. For another tidy way to pair these two, try fig hearts wrapped in prosciutto. View Recipe 02 of 10 Fig-and-Plum Cake Credit: Justin Walker The best of early fall fruit is combined in one delectable cake, featuring frangipane and a buttery crust. Use dark-skinned mission figs for the best color. View Recipe 03 of 10 Fresh Figs With Mascarpone and Warm Spiced Honey Credit: Elizabeth Germain The flavors and textures of this quickly assembled dessert are sublime. Smooth mascarpone, cardamom-spiced warm honey, and fresh figs come together most delightfully. View Recipe How to Eat Figs the Right Way, According to Culinary Pros 04 of 10 Pizza With Fresh Figs, Ricotta, Thyme, and Honey Credit: Marcus Nilsson For an eye-catching appetizer, assertively herbal thyme turns honey savory, and a careful seasoning with salt and pepper steers the sweet figs into grown-up territory. View Recipe 05 of 10 Balsamic Fig Sauce An easy do-it-all balsamic sauce, where fresh figs and thyme become the perfect companion for chicken breast (pictured here) or as a tangy, sweet vinaigrette for your favorite salad. View Recipe 06 of 10 Brandied Figs Credit: Con Poulos Take peak-season figs and preserve them to enjoy year-round. Perfect to serve alongside cheese platters, in cakes, pies, and—why not—on its own. View Recipe 07 of 10 Fig Spread Turn figs into a delectable spread to try on crostini with goat cheese or on toast instead of classic jelly. We used Calimyrna figs from California, which are sweeter. View Recipe 08 of 10 Lemon-Fig Cake Pairing sweet and soft figs and olive oil makes this cake a tasty treat you can't typically find in your local bakery. The cake is dense and not overly sweet, but you can add a simple lemon glaze for extra flavor. View Recipe 09 of 10 Fig and Ginger Granola Credit: Anna Williams Black Mission figs make this granola mix gift-worthy. Add dried apricots and some semisweet chocolate for extra savory and sweet touches. View Recipe 10 of 10 Fig and Almond Crackers Credit: David Malosh Try these homemade crackers for your next charcuterie board. Black Mission figs soaked in port make these chunky crackers the hit of your party's appetizers. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes