Creamy, vanilla cinnamon overnight oats topped with a sweet, earthy, chunky fig jam, crunchy pecans, and delicious chewy dried figs. It’s what breakfast dreams are made of!
oh beautiful fresh figs. One of my all time favorite fruits.
There is nothing quite like the unique taste and texture of a fig. They are lusciously sweet with a slight hint of earthiness that give it a balanced flavor profile. They also have great texture with a smooth easy to eat skin, a soft, chewy flesh, and slight crunch from the seeds in the interior. It’s a magical bite!
But figs are sort of like a Unicorn. Extremely hard to find. And quickly disappear. So when you catch some, you gotta snatch em up!
But seriously, I always have the most difficult time finding fresh figs. There are two relatively short fig seasons: in the beginning of June and from August to October. So they do not last long in the stores (at least here in the Midwest!)
Last week, as I was grabbing apples for my typical grocery shop, I happened to look down to see a large array of figs, hidden right under the apples. I totally forgot that fig season was finally upon us. Best yet, the figs were on super sale. I did my happy dance and then picked out a dozen.
Literally, two days later, I decided to go back and grab a few more fresh figs and they were already completely gone. I even went to a few other markets to see if I could find them. None. They had already disappeared. Like a unicorn. 🦄
But I had enough to make this AMAZING chunky fig jam. I used the jam to make breakfast parfaits that layers the jam, with siggi’s yogurt, and cinnamon vanilla overnight oats. Its a delicious, magical breakfast.
But don’t panic if you too can’t find figs anywhere. You can still make this breakfast treat! You can use store bought fig jam or use another fruit if you prefer a homemade jam. It will still be a fantastic breakfast parfait.
Let’s get to making these parfaits!
Fresh Fig Jam
If you were lucky enough to find fresh figs & are making the jam from scratch, you will start by de-stemming the figs and cutting them in half. Add the fresh figs, orange zest and juice, honey, rich, good quality balsamic, and salt to the pan.
It’s important to use a good quality balsamic in this recipe. One that has a richer, thicker flavor and texture. It will add this beautiful hint of robust tangy sweet flavor. The tart vinegar flavor also balances out the sweetness from the figs and honey.
Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to boil for about a minute. Then lower to a simmer and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The figs will start to break down and release some of their juices. The mixture should be relatively thick though. Add a 1/2 cup of water and combine thoroughly and allow to simmer for another 5 minutes.
Check the jam again. If it still seems too thick, add the other 1/2 cup of water and allow to simmer for another 5 minutes. If the figs are still too chunky, use a masher to mash slightly. But do not overmash, as you want the jam to be slightly chunky. Finally, add the teaspoon of vanilla and mix until it is all incorporated.
Remove jam from heat and allow to come to room temperature.
The Overnight Oats
These breakfast parfaits also star cinnamon vanilla overnight oats. I love overnight oats because they are incredibly easy to make and can be made beforehand (they literally set up overnight).
To a bowl, add the old fashioned oat (not quick oats!), a container of siggi’s vanilla cinnamon yogurt, milk of choice, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Stir until well-combined. Set in fridge overnight.
In the morning, take out the oats. Th oats soak up the milk to puff up and tenderize, so they are easy and delicious to eat. If the mixture looks too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of milk to loosen it up.
Assembly of the Parfaits
To make the parfaits, you will need:
- chunky fig jam
- overnight oats
- slices of dried figs
- pecans
- a container of siggi’s vanilla cinnamon yogurt
- 4 small glass jars or bowls
Grab the jar or bowl (jar preferred as the parfaits are easier to store). Add about a 1/2 cup of the overnight oats to each jar. It should make four servings. Top with a scoop of the cinnamon vanilla yogurt (if you cannot find siggi’s vanilla cinnamon flavor, regular vanilla will work too, just add a pinch of cinnamon).
I highly recommend siggi’s. It’s my favorite yogurt as they have a great selection of flavors, are made with all natural, real ingredients, are low in sugar and taste wonderful.
Finally, top the parfaits with the amazing, chunky fig jam and garnish with chopped pecans and dried figs.
Take a bite and be transported to breakfast heaven.
The overnight oats are creamy and packed with warm cinnamon and vanilla flavor. The yogurt adds additional creaminess and a bit of tang.
The chunky fig jam….well it’s just life. It’s a beautiful balance of sweetness, earthiness, and richness. A true flavor bomb. The figs provide the sweet earthiness and give it a wonderful chunky texture. The honey adds a bit of floral sweetness. The balsamic, secret ingredients, adds tartness and tang to round out the flavors. Plus, the orange juice and zest add an unexpected pop of citrus notes. It’s pretty darn awesome! Be on the lookout for figs so you can make this jam!
Finally, the pecans add crunch and texture to the dish and the dried figs add a little more fig flavor and chewy texture.
This is hands down my new favorite go to breakfast. It’s relatively easy to prepare. Plus, you can prepare it over the weekend (aka what I did yesterday) and have parfaits all week long!
Let me know if you love it too!!
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Cinnamon Vanilla Overnight Oats with Chunky Fig Jam
Creamy, vanilla cinnamon overnight oats topped with a sweet, earthy, chunky fig jam, crunchy pecans, and delicious chewy dried figs. It’s what breakfast dreams are made of!
Ingredients
Chunky Fig Jam
- 1 pound figs about 8-9 medium figs
- Zest of an orange
- Juice of half an orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons rich good quality balsamic
- 1/3 cup honey
- Dash of salt
- 1 cup water
Cinnamon Vanilla Overnight Oats
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 container siggi’s cinnamon vanilla yogurt*
- 1/2 cup milk plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash salt
Additional Ingredients for the Parfaits
- 1 container siggi’s cinnamon vanilla yogurt
- 3 dried figs cut into slices
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
Instructions
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For the jam, cut the figs into quarters. Add the figs, orange juice and zest, vanilla, good quality balsamic*, salt, and honey to a sauce pan. Bring mixture to a boil and let boil for about a minute. Bring mixture down to a simmer and let cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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The figs will start to break down and the jam will start to thicken as it cooks. Add 1/2 cup of the water and mix well with the jam and allow it to simmer for another 5 minutes.
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The jam should thicken up again. If it is still very thick, add the other 1/2 cup water and allow to cook for another five minutes.**
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Use a masher or spoon to gently mash the jam so figs are broken down more. Do not over mash as the jam should remain chunky.
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Remove mixture from pan and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.***
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For the overnight oats, combine old fashioned oats, 1/2 cup milk, container siggi’s yogurt, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set in the fridge overnight. This allows the oats to soak up the milk and tenderize so they are creamy and delicious to eat. In the morning, the mixture may seem a bit thick. Addd 2 tablespoons of milk to loosen it up and make it creamy.
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To make the parfaits, add about a 1/2 cup of the overnight oats to a bowl or jar, and divide between 4 servings. Using the 1 container of siggi’s yogurt, divide the yogurt evenly between the 4 bowls. Top with 2 tablespoons (or more, if you desire) of the jam to each bowl/jar. Garnish with pecans pieces and dried fig slices.
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Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*I recommend using a good, thick balsamic vinegar for best results (not a glaze, but a better quality balsamic will have a thicker consistency) I used Twisted Olive Imports.
*I also highly recommend using siggi's cinnamon vanilla or vanilla 2% yogurt. It's got a beautiful, creamy texture and is not too sweet so pairs perfectly with the fig jam.
**If jam is desired consistency after 1/2 cup water, you can omit the other r1/2 cup. If still seems to thick, add the remaining 1/2 cup water and cook for the additional 5 minutes.
***The jam will store in fridge for 2-3 weeks. You will have jam leftover and it works great on toast, in dressings, or on meat.
