Please don’t leave me alone with this jar for more than 5 minutes. I can’t be trusted. Homemade fig butter seems awfully involved and Martha Stewart-like for us, now doesn’t it? That’s why there’s a Semi-Homemade Vanilla Almond Butter in there. I had to lure you in. That, and my fig butter needed a friend.

This fig butter takes a total of 30 minutes to whip up and kicks the sh*t out of any commercial brand jelly with its 15 g of sugar per tablespoon [I’m looking at you, Smuckers]. And no need to spend big $$$ on fancy almond butters, just fresh grind your own at the grocery store and add a fancy kick with vanilla beans. So simple, so delicious. 

I had to go with figs here because they’re in the peak of their season! Feel free to use fresh or dried, but know you’ll get a more concentrated flavor with dried. I’ve gone both ways and just dig the dried for this recipe. But buy as many fresh figs as you possibly can this week and snack on them while you make these recipes. I don’t know what happened, but while staring at this fresh jar of fig & almond butter, the spirit moved me to throw my gluten inhibitions to the wind and just indulge in something decadent and incredible for breakfast. Pay attention here: Fresh Bread + Semi Homemade Vanilla Almond Butter + Fig Butter + Nana + Honey + Heat = You will cry this is so good. Grill it or do what I did because at this point I couldn’t be bothered to grill a sandwich: microwave for 15 seconds. I won’t tell anyone. I don’t recommend a lot of sugar in the diet, but when one needs a nutritious and delicious substitute for jam or jelly, this fig butter is your go to. When I’m not sinning with gluten, I heat it up and pour it over GF waffles, pancakes and ice cream. And as for the almond butter, well, I eat this pretty much on everything. Laying the fig butter and almond butter in an adorable jar makes a pretty cool gift, too.

Fig Butter

Author: Megan Kober, RDN, LD

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Serves: Makes about 3 cups

Subtly sweet, nutritious alternative to commercial jelly. Six ingredients and done in 35 minutes.

Ingredients

• 
  

  2 cups dried, chopped black mission figs

  
  
• 
  

  2 cups water

  
  
• 
  

  1 Tbsp chia seeds

  
  
• 
  

  1 tsp pure vanilla extract

  
  
• 
  

  6 Tbsp honey

  
  
• 
  

  2 tsp lemon juice

  
  

Instructions

1. 
   

   Combine figs, water & honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

   
   
2. 
   

   Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

   
   
3. 
   

   Stir in chia seeds and then continue to simmer for 15 minutes.

   
   
4. 
   

   Turn off the heat and add in vanilla & lemon juice.

   
   
5. 
   

   Let the mixture cool until it’s safe to handle and pour into a food processor.

   
   
6. 
   

   Process figs for about 2 minutes or until smooth – butter! Time depends on how powerful your food processor is. Add more water or honey, if needed.

   
   

Notes

Chia seeds act as a thickener.

If making a jam, jelly or fruit butter that calls for pectin, try chia instead for an antioxidant boost.

Dates would be pretty awesome in this recipe, too!

Semi-Homemade Vanilla Almond Butter

Author: Megan Kober, RDN, LD

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Super easy way to turn plain ol’ almond butter into a fancy, delicious spread.

Ingredients

• 
  

  1 cup fresh ground almond butter

  
  
• 
  

  1 vanilla bean, scraped

  
  
• 
  

  1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

  
  
• 
  

  1/4 tsp stevia

  
  

Instructions

1. 
   

   Split vanilla bean down the center with a knife. Hold knife perpendicular to the bean and scrape down the center to collect the goodness.

   
   
2. 
   

   Throw everything into the food processor and process til combined!

   
   

Notes

Keep your empty beans – they’re still full of flavor! Put them in a bowl of sugar to make vanilla sugar or stick one in your hot coffee.