With a simple buttery dough and a flavorful fig filling, making these homemade fig bars from scratch is easy and rewarding. Now you can enjoy the irresistible taste of fresh figs whenever you like! They are the perfect dessert or snack.
If you’re a fan of homemade dessert bars and snacks you should also check out my Twix bars with Biscoff spread, my peanut butter bars or my oatmeal cookie bars!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Sweet and fruity. Fig bars offer a deliciously sweet and fruity flavor that is both satisfying and addictive.
- Portable and convenient. They are a convenient snack option that can be easily packed and enjoyed on the go, making them perfect for busy lifestyles.
- Wholesome and nourishing. Made with wholesome ingredients like dried figs and whole grains, fig bars provide a satisfying treat that is also nutritious.
- Versatile and customizable. This recipe can be easily customized by adding nuts, seeds, or other dried fruits, allowing you to create variations and cater to your personal taste preferences.
Ingredients needed
- All-purpose flour. Provides structure and texture to the bars.
- Vegan butter or coconut oil. Adds richness and helps bind the dough together.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness to the dough.
- Non-dairy milk (such as almond milk or soy milk). Adds moisture and helps bring the dough together.
- Vanilla extract. Enhances the flavor of the dough.
- Baking powder. Helps the dough rise and become light and fluffy.
- Salt. Balances the flavors and enhances the overall taste.
- Dried figs. These form the rich, sweet and flavorful filling for the bars.
- Water. Helps soften the dried figs and create a jam-like consistency.
- Maple syrup or another liquid sweetener. Adds sweetness to the fig filling.
- Lemon juice. Provides a tangy flavor that complements the sweetness of the figs.
- Lemon zest (optional). Adds a hint of citrus aroma and flavor to the filling.
How to make fig bars
Step 1 – Prepare the dough. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened vegan butter and granulated sugar until well combined and creamy. Add the non-dairy milk and vanilla extract, and mix again until smooth.
FREE EBOOK SERIES! 5 SECRETS FOR FOOLPROOF VEGAN DESERTS
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough seems too dry, add a little more non-dairy milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
Divide the dough into two equal portions. Take one portion and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming the base layer.
Step 2 – Prepare the filling. In a saucepan, combine the chopped dried figs, water, maple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon zest (if using). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the figs soften and break down into a jam-like consistency. This usually takes about 10 minutes.
Step 3 – Assemble the bars. Remove the fig filling from heat and let it cool slightly. Then spread the fig filling evenly over the dough in the baking dish, forming the middle layer. Take the second portion of the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle of similar size to the baking dish. Carefully transfer the rolled dough onto the fig filling, covering it completely and forming the top layer.
Step 4 – Bake and serve! Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the top layer turns golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the fig bars to cool completely in the baking dish before slicing into squares or bars. Once cooled and sliced, the fig bars are ready to be enjoyed!
Tips to make the best recipe
- Use quality vegan butter or coconut oil. The choice of vegan butter or coconut oil impacts the texture and flavor of the dough. Opt for a high-quality brand with a rich and creamy flavor such as Earth Balance, Country Crock, Melt Organic or Nutiva..
- Chill the dough before rolling. After preparing the dough, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes before rolling it out. This helps the dough firm up, making it easier to handle and preventing it from becoming too sticky.
- Don’t overfill the bars. When spreading the fig filling on the dough, make sure to leave a small border around the edges. Overfilling can cause the filling to leak out during baking and may affect the structural integrity of the bars.
- Experiment with flavors and textures! Chopped nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans can be mixed into the dough before rolling it out, or sprinkled on top of the bars before baking for a delightful crunch. Additionally, you can incorporate other fillings such as chopped dried fruits, like raisins or cranberries, to add a burst of sweetness.
Storage instructions
To store: Once the fig bars have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They can be kept at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, maintaining their freshness and flavor. If you live in a warm climate it’s advisable to store them in the refrigerator to prolong their shelf life. When refrigerated, the fig bars can last for about a week.
Recommended tools
- Stand mixer. Makes the dough making process a lot easier, especially if there’s a lot of dough making in your kitchen.
- Hand mixer. Is always an alternative to whisking!
More snack recipes to try
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use fresh figs in this recipe. However, keep in mind that fresh figs have a higher moisture content compared to dried figs, which might affect the texture of the filling. When using fresh figs, you may need to adjust the cooking time and potentially add additional thickening agents such as cornstarch to achieve the desired consistency.
Yes, you can use gluten-free flour in this recipe as a substitute for all-purpose flour. Look for a gluten-free flour blend that is suitable for baking, or you can use a combination of gluten-free flours such as almond flour, rice flour, and tapioca flour.
Absolutely! You can use healthier sweeteners such as coconut sugar, maple syrup, or agave nectar instead of granulated sugar. Keep in mind that different sweeteners may alter the texture and flavor slightly.
Certainly! You can add chopped nuts like walnuts or almonds to the dough or sprinkle them on top before baking for extra crunch. Additionally, you can incorporate other fillings such as chopped dried fruits or even a layer of nut butter between the dough and the fig filling for added flavor and texture.
Fig Bars
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup vegan butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup almond milk unsweetened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 1/2 cups dried figs stems removed, chopped
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened vegan butter and granulated sugar until well combined and creamy. Add the non-dairy milk and vanilla extract, and mix again until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough seems too dry, add a little more non-dairy milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions. Take one portion and press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming the base layer.
- In a saucepan, combine the chopped dried figs, water, maple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon zest (if using). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the figs soften and break down into a jam-like consistency. This usually takes about 10 minutes.
- Remove the fig filling from heat and let it cool slightly. Then spread the fig filling evenly over the dough in the baking dish, forming the middle layer. Take the second portion of the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle of similar size to the baking dish. Carefully transfer the rolled dough onto the fig filling, covering it completely and forming the top layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the top layer turns golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the fig bars to cool completely in the baking dish before slicing into squares or bars. Once cooled and sliced, the fig bars are ready to be enjoyed!
Talk Back To Me