Getting Figgy with It

Luscious, deeply sweet, a natural match for warm spices and rich foods... Figs were practically made for the holidays. Dried or preserved, these honeyed fruits have been bringing a taste of sunshine to wintertime feasts for millennia. This year, we suggest giving the ancient fig a modern lift with some fun figgy cocktail party ideas.

THE CHEESE PLATE REVELATION
The Garritano family's Pallone di Fichi (Baked Fig Ball) is made with exceptional Calabrian figs that are poached in a secret syrup, packed by hand into a ball, carefully wrapped in fig leaves and baked in a low oven. As they dry, the leaves perfume the figs within, resulting in incredible aroma and concentrated flavors of caramel and licorice.

For the Party: Have your guests pull apart the figs and eat each one with a chunk of blue cheese.

This Southern Italian specialty is only available for the holiday season, so grab one before it's just a figment of your imagination.

THE COLAVOLPE CANAPÃ‰
Fig & Dark Chocolate Panettone is pure luxury: tender cake studded with Colavolpe's famous figs and shards of deep, dark chocolate, and adorned with a sweet toasted hazelnut topping.

For the Party: Cut the Panettone into bite-size rectangles, toast, sprinkle with Cointreau, spread with mascarpone and top with half a preserved fig.

Use leftovers from the giant loaf to make decadent French toast and enjoy a taste of figurative holiday heaven.

THE MERRY APERITIF
Also from Garritano, this dark Fig Syrup is made from Calabrian figs that have been cooked until silken and intensely flavored.

For the Party: In an Old Fashioned glass, mix 1-2 teaspoons Fig Syrup, 1¹/₂ ounces bourbon and a dash of bitters. Add ice, stir and finish with a twist of orange.

This syrup is also wonderful drizzled over aged cheeses or crostini with duck confit. Figs that go with drinks and snacks? Go figure.

Fig out on our entire holiday selection