This is one of the first fig bar recipes I ever tried, and it's still a favorite. Originally from Cooking Light magazine, these 8-inch pan fig bars are made with dried figs which you boil with a mixture of port wine and orange juice. Or you can use just orange juice, which is the way I've always made them. I'm sure they are even better with the Port.
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The recipe calls for an 8-inch square pan, which I recommend lining with foil so that you can easily lift the bars out before and cutting.
Cooking Light Fig Bars Variations
Also, feel free to be creative! I've made these with 100 % dried figs, but I've also used combinations of dried fruit including dried figs and dried cranberries. I'm sure dried cherries would be good too.
Recipe
Fig Bars from Cooking Light
An easy recipe for oatmeal fig bars originally from Cooking Light.
Ingredients
- ½ pound dried figs, stemmed removed, chopped
- ½ cup port wine or fresh orange juice
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (127 grams)
- 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
- ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar (130 grams)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons chilled butter -- cut into pieces (84 grams)
- 1 large egg white
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine figs, wine, and juice in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until figs are tender and most of liquid is absorbed (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat. Cool slightly.
- Place fig mixture in a food processor; process until smooth. Spoon into abowl; cool completely.Plac
- Place flour, oats, sugar, and cinnamon in a food processor; process until oats are finely ground. Add butter; process until mixture resembles coarsemeal. Add egg white; pulse to combine.
- Firmly press half of crumb mixtureinto an 8-inch square pan coated with cooking spray. Spread fig mixtureover crumb mixture. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture; press gently.
- Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Anna says
Mmmmmmm. Snickers.
Saint Anne says
What is light about these? Sugar, flour......what's the point, just buy a Snickers bar.
Maureen says
Anna,Did these have a strong orange flavor from the juice? They look so good, but for some reason I have an aversion to orange flavor in desserts.
Anna says
Maureen, I didn't think the orange flavor was strong, but if you have an aversion to orange, you would probably want to use another juice. I'll bet pear or apple juice would work. OR you could follow CL's lead and use 1/2 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup Port.
jtoepfert100 says
Your fig story made me laugh. Hubby loves fig newtons so I'll have to try these. I'll probably try your 1/2 Craisin idea since they were buy-one-get-one-free last week and, well, you know how that goes.:-)
Anna says
Let me know what you think. I really liked the crumbly texture of these things. I loved the figs, but am now thinking dried plums would work well too.