I’ll be honest — it’s amazing that I was able to pull myself away from this spread long enough to write this post. It’s that good. And it couldn’t be easier.
My local Whole Foods Market sells this amazing cranberry walnut sourdough, which I knew would be the perfect match for this spread. Although really, you could slather this stuff on practically anything and it’d be delicious. The combination of sweet figs, tangy aged balsamic and creamy Neufchatel (fancy lingo for low fat cream cheese) is so amazing it makes a plain bagel and cream cheese seem so…pedestrian.
Balsamic Fig Spread
From Haute Box
What you need:
1 8-ounce package of Neufchatel cheese, at room temperature
6 dried figs, halved
1/4 cup of a good, aged balsamic vinegar (I used a 20-year aged balsamic from the fabulous Figone’s in Sonoma County, California)
How you do it:
1. Heat figs and balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the figs have plumped up and the balsamic vinegar becomes syrupy, approximately 5-8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. In a food processor, blitz the fig/balsamic mixture with the Neufchatel cheese until well combined. Spread on toast, crackers or whatever else strikes your fancy. Store in the fridge in an air-tight container.
Fresh & Foodie 
Wow. Just wow. That sounds amazing. I love Whole Foods baker department. They always have scrumptious things!
What an outstanding original recipe.
🙂 Mandy
Oh, that sounds so yummy! There is nothing like a great aged balsamic! I will be making that today!
I believe you, I don’t think I’d be able to stop eating it! What a great idea!
I could live off bread and cheese and this is bread and cheese elevated to another level. I don’t have a Whole Foods near me, 😦 they have a similar one at the Whole Foods I used to go to. The fist photo is beautiful!
*sorry I meant first not fist!
Interesting recipe 🙂 really unusual spread, but I can imagine that it tastes nice
Spreads are seriously my downfall… no wonder it’s one of the reasons my heart belongs to breakfast. Especially when bagels are involved. :p
Looks amazing!! Glad you enjoyed it!
Fabulous idea! and much healthier than many other spreads. I’m going to try this — especially since I’ve been wanting to have some figs lately 🙂
this looks awesome- i’m making it asap!
Congrats on Top 9! I”ll bet the sweet an tangy flavors go perfectly together. Great job picking out that bread! I love whole foods, I can spend hours in there!
Bread? Pfffft. I’d just end up eating a whole batch of this spread by the spoonful, straight out of the bowl. 🙂 Anything flavoured with balsamic and fig is instant love in my books.
Congrats on the Top 9!
Great idea ! Can’t wait to try it !
I love anything with fig in it. This sounds delicious!
Very interesting flavor profile here. Thanks for sharing.
Great spread that goes well with grissini too. I’ve seen you used the fruity bread which tastes amazing. Great photos as well! Well done for the Top 9
Sounds interesting. Congrats on the Top 9.
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holy smokes I want to make/eat this RIGHT now. What a simple and fabulous idea. Thanks!
yum yum yum yum yum! this would be a perfect picnic spread.
Oh My! So easy!! I love things like that. My mom actually has a fig tree… bush? She is always trying to give me figs, but I have to admit that I didn’t actually try them until this year. She will adore this spread!!
Ooo new cheese to me 🙂 Sounds delicious too, will have to run down to the cheese shop soon to enquire. Would cream cheese be a desperate substitute?
It would totally work, as long as it’s at room temperature. I hope you make it!