Is fig bread good for you?

Fig bread offers some solid nutritional benefits — figs are a natural source of fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. When made with bread flour and real fig jam, you're getting natural sugars rather than heavily processed ones. That said, it's still an enriched bread with butter and sugar, so enjoy it as a treat rather than an everyday health food.

Meet the Fig Jam Bread [Tastes as if It Came From a Bakery]

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups bread flour
2¼ tsp active dry yeast
¾ cup warm whole milk
3 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp salt
½ cup thick fig jam

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Instructions

Activate the yeast: Combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast; let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
Build the dough: Add flour, softened butter, and salt; stir until a shaggy dough forms.
Knead: Work 8–10 minutes by hand (or 6–8 in a stand mixer) until smooth and slightly tacky.
First proof: Let rise in a greased, covered bowl 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
Shape and fill: Roll into a 9×12-inch rectangle and spread fig jam evenly, leaving a ½-inch border.
Roll and pan: Roll tightly, pinch the seam, and place seam-side down in a greased loaf pan.
Second proof: Let rise 45–60 minutes until puffed above the rim; preheat oven to 350°F.
Bake: Bake 30–35 minutes until golden, or 190–195°F internal temperature.
Cool: Rest 10 minutes in the pan, then 20 minutes on a rack before slicing.

Notes

Use thick fig jam. Thin or runny jam will leak through the dough during baking, creating a soggy interior. If your jam is too loose, cook it down in a small saucepan over medium heat for a few minutes until it holds its shape on a spoon.

Author: Natasha Krajnc