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A fresh fig jam canning recipe, that’s infused with red wine and rosemary. The added touch of fruity red wine deepens the wonderful flavor of the fresh figs. Recipe includes step-by-step canning instructions, and comes together under an hour.
Like many other fruits, I wish fig season lasted longer.
When I’m lucky enough to find fresh figs each fall here in the Midwest, I buy a few crates like I’ll never see them again. The problem is they’re highly perishable. So once I’ve had my fill eating them atop honey almond cake, or these savory prosciutto wrapped figs (with blue cheese!), I make jam to preserve them into winter using easy canning recipes.
Infused with rosemary and red wine, these homemade fig preserves are an absolute treat. It’s sweet, fruity, and elevated – without being difficult to make at home.
And just like having a house wine, this is now our house jam.
The red wine doesn’t taste boozy; the concentration of red fruit actually deepens the overall fruit flavor, while adding brightness from the acid. I like to use a red blend, which is softer and less tannic than something like a Cabernet. Merlot works well too.
Whether you layer this fig jam on sourdough toast (the truest of duos!), swirled into oatmeal, or part of an evening cheese board, this fresh fig jam is the perfect accompaniment.
It may seem intimidating, but canning is not difficult in terms of expertise or time. Once you try it once, I guarantee you’ll want to preserve all the fruits and vegetables!
What’s most important is having your canning tools ready before you start.
Jam can be thickened a number of ways, using some form of pectin. Pectin is a type of starch, called a heteropolysaccharide, that occurs naturally in the cell walls of fruits and vegetables and gives them structure. When combined with sugar and acid, it makes jams and jellies develop a semisolid texture when they cool.
For this recipe, I used Ball® Classic Pectin, which produces great results. It’s perfect for on-demand needs and any size recipe to preserve your fruits and vegetables.
Fig jam is incredibly versatile, with the ability to be used in both sweet and savory ways! I like to have a few jars in the pantry to use for quick appetizers, like these Blue Cheese and Fig Jam crostini.
Simply toast thinly sliced pieces of baguette, spread fig jam on the bottom, top with a mild blue cheese and a sprinkle of fresh rosemary. Such a quick and easy appetizer! It called also be used in my Warm Fig Jam & Prosciutto Goat Cheese Dip.
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Amy N
December 2, 2024
Holy moly! This is FANTASTIC! Complex, fruity, not too sweet and very elegant… I wish I had more figs to make more jam. Bravo on the recipe!
Amanda Paa
December 3, 2024
so glad you enjoyed it!
Linda
September 9, 2024
I was fortunate to be gifted a lot of fresh figs. I had never canned figs before but thought this recipe looked interesting, I love red wine and have rosemary in my garden so perfect. the recipe was surprisingly easy and foolproof – not to mention delicious!!!
Amanda Paa
September 9, 2024
The gift of figs is such a joy! Glad you enjoyed this jam recipe.
Michelle
December 19, 2023
It’s Michelle again :) Is it possible to use sun dried mission figs for this recipe? I was planning on making for Christmas gift baskets and just realized that this recipe was calling for fresh figs. Thank you so much!
Amanda Paa
December 20, 2023
Hi Michelle! I haven’t tested this recipe with dried figs. I don’t think it would work the same. I’d look for frozen fresh figs or a recipe that specifically calls for dried figs.
Michelle De Poy
December 16, 2023
I am so excited to try this! Do I have to use bottled lemon juice? May I simply use the juice from a lemon?
Amanda Paa
December 16, 2023
Hi Michelle! Bottled lemon juice is recommended for preserving because it has to have a set acidity, so you know that the recipe will be safe. Fresh lemons can vary in acidty, so proceed at your own risk.
Peggy Powell
September 28, 2023
Do you think you could freeze this jam?
Amanda Paa
September 28, 2023
Yes, it can be frozen! Just make sure you cook the jam as instructed in the recipe card so that it is set. You can freeze the jam for up to 10 months.
barb robarge
August 24, 2023
can you use figs from the grocery store?
Amanda Paa
August 24, 2023
Yes, fresh figs from the grocery store is what I use!
Sayaka
August 18, 2023
I LOVE the taste of this jam and this is my second year making it.
Denise
June 14, 2023
This sounds amazing and I don’t even like figs!! Do you chop the figs with the skins on or only use the inside? Looking forward to adding this beautiful jam to my pantry.
Amanda Paa
June 14, 2023
Hi Denise! Figs are simply de-stemmed and halved, skin will cook down and dissolve. Enjoy!
Denise
June 14, 2023
Fabulous!! Thanks for the quick reply :)
Mary
June 5, 2023
You say process jars.
Water bath??
Gauged ??
Amanda Paa
June 5, 2023
Yes, water bath. I’ll clarify!
Michelle
April 9, 2023
Hi! This sounds amazing and I would love to try! Could you please advise, how long can I keep the preserved jam for ?
Amanda Paa
April 10, 2023
Hello! Stored in a cool, dark place the jam will last for 12-16 months.
Michelle
April 10, 2023
Awesome and thanks for such prompt reply!!!
Allison
November 13, 2022
Hi Amanda! Did you use 4oz or 8oz jelly jars for this recipe? Looks delicious!
Amanda Paa
November 13, 2022
I used 8 ounce jars but 4 ounce work too!
Allison
November 13, 2022
Thank you! I’m new to canning and wondering if I would still use same 10 min processing time for 4oz or reduce?
Amanda Paa
November 13, 2022
Hi! Processing time does not change for smaller jars, so keep the same 10 minutes.
Valerie
November 7, 2022
Can I substitute grapes for figs in this recipe?
Amanda Paa
November 7, 2022
Hi! This recipe has not been tested with grapes, so should not be used.
Christy A
October 10, 2022
100% the best fig jam recipe EVER. This is addicting! I used allulose instead of cane sugar and it turned out perfect! (Allulose is a natural sweetener that cooks/behaves just like sugar with about 80% of the sweetness and has a much lower glycemic index.) I am making two more batches tonight!!
Amanda Paa
October 10, 2022
I’m so glad you like the recipe, Christy!
Diane
September 21, 2022
I made a double-batch, and it’s delicious!
A few years back, my “spirit guides” instructed me to no longer eat meat or have alcohol. I wasn’t a big meat eater and might had an occasional glass of wine. Every once in a while I would miss the taste of wine.
This recipe is great for non-alcoholic drinkers, because all the alcohol cooks off leaving the wine flavor. It is named appropriately as well, Rosemary Red Wine Fig Jam; emphasis on the Wine. I used an inexpensive Riunite Raspberry Wine; nothing fancy, and Chicago Hardy Figs from our tree here at our East TN homestead. I know my friends that like wine will definitely appreciate a jar of this fine jam, along with a newly sprouted little fig tree. ;)
Thanks Amanda, great recipe.
Amanda Paa
September 21, 2022
Thank you for the notes, Diane! I’m so glad you liked the recipe.
Cindy
September 20, 2022
Is there a risk to leaving the Rosemary in the jam if canned properly?
Cindy Finger
September 10, 2022
I loved this recipe. Much easier than my usual recipe and so delicious.
I did use one package of liquid pectin. It worked out great.
Amanda Paa
September 11, 2022
So great to hear, Cindy!
Nicole
August 18, 2022
I made this yesterday from 6 lbs of fresh figs and lots of rosemary from my garden, ended up with 30 jars of it! We tasted it tonight and WOW it is so good. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe! I have a feeling this will now be a yearly tradition.
Amanda Paa
August 18, 2022
Jealous of all your figs! And so glad you liked the recipe.
Nicole
August 18, 2022
I have a small fig tree that produces REALLY well. I still have 10+ lbs of figs in the freezer (and more on the way), so I’m trying to figure out what to do with them! Do you happen to have any savory fig canning recipes? I have enough jam at the moment (I also have a lot of blueberries and blackberries I used this season), but my “last resort” is to make more fig jam from this recipe :D
Lynn
August 8, 2022
Just made it tonight and it tastes amazing!! I’m hoping it sets up ok because I had to swap out SureJell for the Ball pectin. Doesn’t matter though….it would still be great as a cocktail syrup! LOL
Paula M.
July 30, 2022
This is the second year that I have used this recipe to make the most amazing jam. I’m lucky that I have access to both fresh figs and rosemary fresh from the garden. I’ve tried this with merlot, a red blend and a sweet red…all are delicious! It’s the first jam I make with the first figs of summer. Thank you for posting it.
Amanda Paa
July 31, 2022
love hearing this, Paula!
Amanda
September 24, 2021
This jam is INCREDIBLE. We’ve made two batches, the flavor varied slightly with wine variety and the layers of flavor are just amazing.
Amanda Paa
September 24, 2021
So glad to hear this, Amanda! And yes, love how the wine variety slightly changes the flavor depending on what you use!
Rose Steele
September 6, 2021
I have Mediterranean white figs (green w/fuchsia centers) and I make jam with no sugar or pectin because they are so sweet and they gel naturally. Do you think using those in your recipe would need the pectin? I can taste for the sugar and adjust. Thanks.
Amanda Paa
September 7, 2021
Hi Rose! You could certainly make without the pectin as you’d like, I just can’t tell you what the shelf life and safety would be, as I didn’t test it that way.
Matt A
August 27, 2021
HI. How long will the jam last in the refrigerator without doing the canning process?
Amanda Paa
August 27, 2021
hi! it should last 4ish weeks in the refrigerator without canning.
Kristi Duchscherer
October 31, 2020
Will this work with dried figs? I desperately want to make this but only have access to dried figs right now…
Amanda Paa
October 31, 2020
hi Kristi! you’ll need fresh figs for this recipe, sorry.
Kristin Duchscherer
October 31, 2020
Thanks so much!!