A pie with figs and a honey crust combines the rich, sweet flavor of ripe figs with a beautifully golden and flavorful crust enhanced by honey. Here’s a recipe to make this delicious pie:
Ingredients
For the Honey Crust:
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2-3 tablespoons ice water (as needed)
For the Fig Filling:
- 1 pound fresh figs, trimmed and quartered (or use 1 cup dried figs, chopped)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
For the Topping (Optional):
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Honey Crust:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- Cut in Butter: Cut in the chilled butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Add Honey and Egg Yolk: Stir in the honey and egg yolk until the dough starts to come together. If needed, add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough just holds together.
- Chill Dough: Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the Fig Filling:
- Prepare Figs: If using fresh figs, trim and quarter them. If using dried figs, chop them into small pieces.
- Cook Filling: In a medium saucepan, combine the figs, granulated sugar, honey, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the figs break down and the mixture thickens, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
3. Assemble the Pie:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Transfer the dough to the pie pan, pressing it into the bottom and up the sides. Trim any excess dough.
- Add Filling: Pour the fig filling into the prepared crust and spread it evenly.
4. Bake:
- Prepare Top Crust (Optional): If you like, you can top the pie with a second layer of dough, cut into strips for a lattice design, or simply cover the filling with another rolled-out piece of dough. If covering with a full crust, cut a few slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Brush the top crust with beaten egg and sprinkle with granulated sugar for a golden finish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Cool: Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours to let the filling set.
5. Serve:
- Slice and enjoy your pie with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired.
This fig and honey crust pie is a delightful combination of sweet, sticky figs and a rich, slightly sweet crust, perfect for a special dessert. Enjoy!
