Lemon Fig Marmalade

I am participating in a year long Food In Jars Mastery Challenge hosted by Marisa from Food in Jars and the January challenge was marmalade! I have never made marmalade. I have made all kinds of jellies, jams and preserves. Marmalade is basically the same, but they have a citrus base of orange, lemon, lime or other citrus fruit. I chose lemon to pair with the figs I had in the freezer!

6 cups fresh figs
3 lemons (scrub well)
6 cups sugar*

Cut the stems off the figs and cut into quarters.
Cut the rind off the lemons and slice into small strips. Add the juice and a little water to a pan and simmer until the zest/rind is soft.
Pour the figs into a heavy based preserving pan. Add the lemon mixture and simmer until the figs are soft and break down a little.

Add the sugar and let it dissolve before bringing up to a rolling boil.
Boil for about 30 minutes or until it has reached the setting point (220 degrees).
Carefully ladle into sterilized jars and put on the lids. 

Place jars in a boiling water bath (this can be a large stock pot with a rack on the bottom) and cover completely with water to 2" over the top of the jars.

Cover stock pot with lid and bring water to a rolling boil over high heat. Reduce heat some, but maintain a boil and process jars in the boiling water 10 minutes.

Remove jars from boiling water bath and allow to sit undisturbed on a kitchen towel on your counter-top 24 hours.

Store in a cool pantry for up to a year.

*The amount of sugar may vary according to the sweetness of your fruit. My figs were very ripe and very sweet when I froze them this summer.