1. Heat oven to 225 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper (or a Silpat baking mat, if you're drying figs). Arrange fruit, cut sides up, spaced 1/2 to 1 inch apart, on pan. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over fruit; depending on fruit's tartness, add more sugar.

2. Transfer pan to oven; dry until fruit has shriveled, edges have dried, and centers are still juicy; timing will vary according to variety of fruit, ripeness, and size, 1 1/2 to 4 hours. If juices start to run, baste with juices every hour. Transfer pan to a cooling rack; remove from pan while still warm.