Ingredients

8 whole cloves 

1 cinnamon stick (about 3 inches long) 

1/8 teaspoon cardamom seeds 

2 black peppercorns 

4 whole  allspice berries, cracked 

3/4 cup orange honey 

All-purpose flour, for work surface 

1 package (17.3-ounce) store-bought frozen puff pastry, thawed 

1 1/2 tablespoons Banyuls vinegar 

12 large ripe black Mission figs, trimmed and halved lengthwise

Cinnamon-Almond Cream

Candied Toasted Almonds

Fleur de sel, for garnish

Port Reduction

Whipped creme fraiche, for garnish

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Using the bottom of a small saucepan, crack together cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, peppercorns, and allspice berries, then place inside the pot. Add the honey and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow mixture to cool.

Lightly dust work surface with flour, and roll out puff pastry 1/4 inch thick. Cut out four 4 1/12-inch rounds and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough and weigh down with a second baking sheet. Bake until the dough is deep golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack; set aside.

Strain the spiced honey mixture; stir in vinegar. Place the figs in a medium bowl and add half of the spiced honey mixture. Toss to coat. Remove figs from honey, and place cut sides up on a baking sheet. Bake figs for 20 minutes, basting once with the remaining spiced honey mixture. Remove from oven and transfer figs to a plate; set aside.

Turn oven down to 350 degrees. Place puff pastry rounds on a baking sheet. Spread puff pastry with a 1/4-inch layer of cinnamon-almond cream. Divide candied almonds evenly between pastry rounds, and bake until the cream topping begins to dry around the edges but remains soft in the center, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and place 6 fig halves, upright, on each round. Drizzle figs with remaining spiced honey. Lightly sprinkle with fleur de sel. Serve with port reduction and creme fraiche.