Oatmeal Fig Bars Recipes

OATMEAL FIG BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Grease or lightly spray a 9" square baking pan.
• Cream butter in mixer until creamy.
• Add brown sugar to butter and mix until lightened and well blended, about 2 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.
• Add vanilla to mixer.
• Combine next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl and lightly stir with a fork.
• Add dry ingredients into mixing bowl and mix on low until worked in completely.
• Pat 2/3 of mixture into bottom of prepared pan. If needed, use a piece of parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray to help spread it evenly in the pan as the dough will be somewhat sticky.
• Spread contents of entire jar of fig butter evenly over crust.
• Place (plop!) the remaining crust over the fig jam and lightly press down.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking for a golden color on top.
• Remove from oven and cool before cutting into bars.

BAKED OATMEAL BREAKFAST BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square pan.
• Combine oats, brown sugar, white sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Whisk milk, eggs, canola oil, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl. Stir egg mixture into oats mixture until well combined; set aside until flavors blend, about 20 minutes. Spread oats mixture into prepared square pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden brown, about 30 minutes.

FIG BARS I

Steps:

• Soak figs in the water for 1 hour. In a small saucepan, combine the fig mixture with the sugar, and cook over medium heat until thick and stewy. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the milk and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Divide the dough into two pieces and knead each piece about 5 or 6 times. On a well floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Line the prepared pan with one piece of the dough. Spread the fig mixture over it, then cover with the other piece of dough.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.

OAT AND FIG SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F . Put figs in a small saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and let figs soften for 5-7 minutes. Do not drain.
• Lightly coat an 8X8-inch baking pan with cooking spray (or line with parchment paper or nonstick foil). In a small bowl, mix canola oil or butter, honey, and milk. In a medium bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt; add wet ingredients, then mix well.
• Remove softened figs from water and place in a blender or food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of the rehydrating water and puree until smooth. (I added a tiny bit more water as they still seemed a little thick to spread easily.).
• Place a little more than half of the oat mixture in the prepared pan and spread evenly across the bottom. (It was sticking to my hands a bit, so I laid waxed paper over it to press on as I evened it out.) Spread figs evenly on top. Add remaining oat mixture on top of fig layer, allowing some of the figs to show through. (I just pinched off bits of the dough and dropped them evenly over the top.) Pat lightly to flatten.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan on a wire rack. When cool, cut into 16 squares.

OATMEAL FIG BARS (VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8X8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides.
• Put the dried figs in a bowl, and cover them completely with hot water. Allow them to soak for 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, oat flour, chopped almonds, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Add the almond butter and mix until everything is combined.
• Take 3/4 of the mixture and press it into the bottom of the baking dish. Use the back of a cup or spatula to press it down firmly.
• Remove the figs from the water and put them in a food processor. Add 3 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons of the soaking water and process until it is a smooth mixture.
• Take the fig mixture and spread it on top of the almond oat crust.
• Top with crumbles of the remaining almond oat mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into squares. Enjoy!

OATMEAL, FIG, AND WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• For filling:
• Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Uncover and simmer until figs are very soft and filling is thick, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Mix in lemon juice and vanilla, then walnuts. Cool completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.
• For crust:
• Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Spray 13x9x2- inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Combine oats and next 5 ingredients in large bowl and whisk to blend. Add cubed "butter." Using fingertips, blend until mixture forms small moist clumps.
• Firmly press half of crust mixture (about 3 cups) over bottom of prepared pan. Spread filling evenly over crust. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture over filling; press to adhere.
• Bake bars until deep brown and firm to touch, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Cut crosswise into 6 strips. Make 8 lengthwise cuts, forming 2x1-inch bars. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover pan with foil; store at room temperature.
• Place powdered sugar in medium bowl. Using narrow spatula, remove as many bars as desired from pan. Roll half of bars in powdered sugar to coat. Arrange coated bars and plain bars alternately on platter.

HOMEMADE OATMEAL FIG BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8-inch (what I use and recommend) or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars when they have cooled. Set aside.
• Combine the chopped dried figs, water, and orange juice together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook while stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes or until figs are soft and have absorbed some of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until there are no more chunks (fig seeds will not break down). Set aside. Makes *about* 1 and 1/4 cups filling.
• In a large bowl, whisk the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and egg together. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Begin whisking to combine and once the mixture becomes too thick, switch to a spoon or rubber spatula to bring the ingredients together. You will have about 2 and 1/2 cups of this crust/topping mixture.
• Take a little over 1 and 1/2 cups of the crust/topping mixture and press it evenly into the lined pan. Spread fig filling in an even layer on top. Spoon remaining crust/topping mixture evenly on top and gently press it down into the filling to ensure it's tight and compact on top.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top has lightly browned. Avoid over-baking. 8 inch pans take closer to 30 minutes, 9 inch pans take closer to 25 minutes. (Note: Oil/moisture will soak on the parchment paper during the baking & cooling process. That's normal with this recipe.) Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Cool bars completely.
• Lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang on the sides. Cut into squares.
• Cover leftover bars and store at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.