Easy Fig and Lemon Preserves Easy homemade fig preserves; can them in a water bath or make them freezer preserves.

Easy Fig and Lemon Preserves is a simple, flavorful marmalade made with fresh figs and lemon slices. This small batch fig recipe can be made as a freezer jam or stored on the shelf if processed in a water bath.

Another name for this yummy fruit spread could be Easy Fig Marmalade. The lemon is pleasantly noticeable but not overpowering.

My favorite kind of small batch canning for jams and preserves is the freezer method like Strawberry Freezer Jam and Peach Freezer Marmalade.

But putting the jars of fig preserves in a quick "water bath" is worth it to be able to give them as gifts this Christmas months down the road.

Do I have to can fig preserves?

If I know I'm going to use the preserves in less than a month, I'll skip the water bath and just store them in the fridge up to a month or in the freezer up to one year.

Publix had them BOGO (Buy One Get One) this past week.

I would have bought more if I hadn't found the huge fig tree in my "distant neighbor's" yard. Read that fun story.

I bought California black Mission figs because my green figs in the picture below (taken last year) were not quite ripe when I was ready to make the preserves.

The "white" figs in the pic above is a hybrid tree in my back yard. It's a dilemma as to the exact species but we think it is a cross between a Smyrna and something else. They are very large, not overly sweet figs. If you know what kind of fig this is, I'd love for you to comment below this recipe!

Publix often has them BOGO in August. I would have stocked up on a sale like that if I hadn't found the huge fig tree in my "distant neighbor's" yard. Read that fun story here.

So, this proves any hybrid of fresh figs will work for this fig preserves recipe.

How to make fig preserves

Scroll down for detailed, printable recipe.

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan.

Bring to a boil and let simmer about 1 hour, stirring often. It is ready when the syrup is slightly thickened.

How to make the preserves

Combine all the ingredients in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until thickened. You will have to stir more often as it starts to thicken. Mixture is ready when it is slightly thickened.

I like to use a potato masher at this point to help break up any large pieces of fig so it is spreadable.

Spoon the hot mixture into hot sterilized jars. (See the recipe below for specific directions).

Wipe off any drips. Heat the rings up in boiling water a few minutes before sealing if you plan to store the jars on a shelf and not refrigerate. Seal with Mason jar lids and rings. Specific directions are in the recipe below.

What's the shortcut?

If you are going to keep the preserves in the fridge for a short period of time, there's no need to process them in a water bath. Freezer jams and jellies save the step of processing in a water bath.

Is making Fig and Lemon Preserves easy?

Making Fig and Lemon preserves (or Marmalade) are as easy as tossing the few ingredients in a large sauce pan and cooking it down for a couple of hours.

The hardest part (not hard at all-just inconvenient) is to make sure jars are sanitized before spooning in the hot mixture if you are going to store them on the shelf, not in the fridge.

It's not enough to wash them, you really need to go ahead and dip them in the pot of boiling water you are already going to boil to give the jars of preserves a water bath. No pressure cooker needed!

What can I serve with fig and lemon preserves?

I am putting it on everything these days! Spread it on cream cheese and toasted bagel or croissant, toasted sourdough bread, my Fig Jam Cake, my 2 Ingredient Biscuits, and poured over brie cheese for a party-oh, and there was that late night bowl of ice cream…..

If you are looking for another way to use Fig and Lemon Preserves, try my Fig Jam Cake made with Slow Cooker Fig Jam and add a dollop of whipped cream and a spoonful of Fig and Lemon Preserves.

If you make this recipe I'd love to see it! Tag me on social media with #gritsandgouda or @gritsandgouda. Leave a comment below the printable recipe if you have questions or tell me how you liked the recipe. Don't forget to give the recipe a rating of 5 stars if you love it!

Feel free to message me with any questions you may have or leave a comment below. I'd love to hear what you make with figs this season!

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More fig recipes

Here's a roundup of 5 Easy Fig Recipes from my collection all in one place!

Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.