Appetizer Recipe for Stuffed Baked Figs

My appetizer recipe for Stuffed Baked Figs is outstanding! This simple appetizer can be created in a matter of minutes and it really does hit so many wonderful flavor notes.  Sweet ripe figs stuffed with salty blue cheese, drizzled with floral honey and topped off with crunch buttery pistachios, what’s not to love?

In Texas we really have 2 shots of figs, early in July and again in late August through October.  I don’t always see figs in my market but while preparing for a few neighbors to come over for cocktails (think Apple Martinis) on the back porch, there they were, ripe and perfect!  I decided to bring them home and create something fabulous.

When choosing figs, open the clam shells they are shipped in and give a them gently squeeze, the figs should yield a bit but not too much.  If there are any broken places on the surface, pass because with figs, you eat the skin.   I like to store my figs in a bowl and only for 1-2 days in the refrigerator, I find that figs don’t have a long shelf life.

Before you get started, give the figs a gentle wash.  Cut the stems off and cut an X in the top of each fig. 

Stuff the figs with the blue cheese mixture by placing it in a zip top bag, snip the tip of the bag and press the cut corner into the X you created with the knife.  Pipe a small amount of the cheese into the center of each fig.

 Bake the stuffed fig appetizers to perfection; drizzle on honey and top with pistachios and you have possibly the best bite ever.  Try serving the baked figs with champagne, c’est parfait!

Figs Stuffed with Blue Cheese

12 ripe figs

2 tablespoons cream cheese

¼ cup crumbled blue cheese

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons chopped pistachios

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.  Prepare the figs by washing them gently and cut each the stem off.  Using a sharp paring knife, cut an X in the top of each fig about 1/3 of the way through.  In a small mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese and the blue cheese well.  Using a rubber spatula, scoop the cheese mixture into a zip top bag.  Snip the tip of the bag.  Place the cut end of the bag into the center of each fig and squirt a small about of the cheese mixture.  Place the figs on the prepared pan and into the oven for 5-8 minutes until cheese is melting and turning brown. Place the figs on serving tray or board and drizzle with honey.  Next sprinkle the nuts over the cooked figs and serve at once.

I hope you’ll try my appetizer recipe for Stuffed Baked Figs before the season is over and tell me how you liked them!