HOT FIGS IN MULLED WINE SYRUP

Originally, Mulled Wine was made by adding spices to a bucket of red wine which was heated by having red hot iron pokers plunged into it. This dessert lacks that kind of drama but tastes better for it!

Ingredients:

10 Purple figs - cut into quarters
4 oz caster sugar
1 oz butter
2 Cloves
1 inch piece of cinnamon stick
1 Star Anise
Zest and Juice of 1 lemon and 1 small Orange
1/4 pint of good red wine

Method:

Place the butter in a pan over a medium heat until it
starts to bubble then add the sugar, reduce the heat and cook gently until it turns a golden caramel colour.
PLEASE be careful at this point as the sugar will be VERY HOT.

Be careful too when you add the wine, juice and zest next, as it will sizzle and spit - then let it bubble away to a deep red syrup. Throw in the figs and cook for two minutes only.

These figs are a perfect partner for toffee parfait, but are almost as good with just a blob of creme creche and a sprinkling of toasted almonds. And Plums work as well as Figs.