Whole Fig Preserves in Syrup (Bulgarian Sladko)

Overhead view of a whole peeled fig in glossy syrup inside an open glass jar

Whole Fig Preserves in Syrup (Bulgarian Sladko)

Whole fig preserves made with peeled fresh figs simmered in a lemon sugar syrup until soft and glossy. A traditional Bulgarian sladko with just four ingredients.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Course: Dessert, jam

Cuisine: American, bulgarian

Keyword: fig jam, fig recipe, sladko

Servings: jars

Ingredients

2 pounds 900 g ripe green or purple figs, peeled and left whole
1 cup 200 g granulated sugar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Peel the figs and leave them whole.
Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a wide pot, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Add the lemon juice, then gently add the figs in a single layer.
Simmer on low for 35–45 minutes without stirring, swirling the pot every 5 minutes, until glossy and slightly translucent.
Transfer the figs to clean, hot jars and cover completely with hot syrup, leaving ½ inch headspace.
Close the lids, cool, and refrigerate up to 1 month.

Notes

Yield- about 1 quart (2 pint jars), 18–20 figs
Optional: simmer 10 minutes, rest overnight, then finish cooking 25–30 minutes the next day.
Firm figs: leave the skin on and prick each fig with a fork before cooking.
About 18 g sugar per fig with syrup.
Nutrition info per jar.

Nutrition