Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, you can still make these! New to the air fryer? Check out our First Timer’s Guide to Using an Air Fryer.
What Kind of Figs Should I Use?
This recipe works best with dried figs. Fresh figs are very juicy and have a tendency to make a huge mess when they are fried or exposed to really high heat. If you are lucky enough to have fresh figs around, just snack on them raw! Dried figs have the same fig flavor, but unlike fresh figs, are available all year long. After reconstituting them, they won’t have quite the same juiciness as fresh figs, but they’ll still work well for this recipe. I like dried Turkish figs best, but black mission figs also work.
Why Do I Need to Reconstitute the Figs?
Dried figs are tough to chew on their own, so I reconstitute them by soaking them in hot water before using them in this recipe. This makes them tender (but not quite as juicy or tender as a fresh fig) and perfect for frying in an air fryer!
What Kind of Bacon to Buy
When I’m buying bacon for the purposes of wrapping, I prefer standard-width bacon. If you buy thick-cut bacon, it will be hard to get it crispy and cooked-through during baking. If the bacon strips are a little wide, I trim them down to 1/2" – 3/4" thick so they wrap nicely without a lot of overlap on the figs. If you have leftover scraps of bacon, use them as a base for a Pasta Carbonara!
How to Make These Without an Air Fryer
If you don’t have an air fryer, the broiler is your next best option. Broil the figs on high for about three minutes per side. It will be a bit messier, but the results will still taste great.
Suggestions and Substitutions
Stuff it! Just wrapping bacon around figs is delicious, but you can also feel free to stuff the figs before air frying. To do this, cut a small slit in each fig and spoon in a little blue cheese or goat cheese, or stuff something crunchy inside, like half an almond. Either of those—or both!—would be great.Can’t find dried figs? Dates will work as a substitute.Serving suggestion! I like to serve these on a platter with drizzle of honey. I also like to sprinkle sesame seeds and/or chives on top, but that’s not necessary.Double it! This recipe is super easy to double. Just be sure to air fry them in batches so as not to crowd your air fryer.
Make-Ahead Tips for Bacon-Wrapped Figs
You can make and air fry the bacon-wrapped figs in advance. If you do, reheat them for a few minutes in the air fryer until they are sizzling before serving. You can also go halfway and prepare the figs, wrap them, and store them in the fridge. Then just fry them right before party time!
More Party Appetizers
Honey Hazelnut Baked Brie Cranberry Glazed Meatballs Goat Cheese Bacon Pops Classic Stuffed Mushrooms Easy Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
If you don’t have an air fryer, broil the figs on high for about 3 minutes per side. Leftover figs (yeah right!) will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in a 350 ̊F oven, or reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes before eating.
