Homemade Whole Wheat Fig Bars Recipe
Making your own fig bars is so much easier than you might think. Let me show you how to create these delicious cookies in your own kitchen!
Servings: 20 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons softened butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¼ cups chopped figs
- 1 tablespoon honey can be used as needed to sweeten the figs. It is optional though, mine were sweet enough!
Instructions
- Place figs in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them soften for about 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the water, then pulse them in a food processor until they are smooth. Add in a touch of extra water if needed to make them smooth.
- Cream your butter and sugar together on medium speed for about 1 minute until it is light and fluffy. I like to do this with an electric mixer- either a stand mixer or a hand mixer, but it can also be done by hand as well.
- To the mixture, add in the egg and vanilla then mix to combine. Do not overmix this.
- Last in the dry ingredients. Again, mix to combine. Watch as the dough forms and the flour is incorporated.
- Divide dough in half and roll it into a 4x14-inch rectangle between 2 pieces of parchment paper with a rolling pin. I like to cut and trim it up with a pastry roller or sharp knife. Set the dough on the parchment on the back of a baking sheet pan and move it to the fridge for about 15-20 minutes. It is so much easier to work with if it is chilled.
- While it is chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and spread the fig filling over half the rectangle going lengthwise. This will be the bottom crust.
- Gently fold over the uncovered side and press it to close. The uncovered side will be the top crust.
- Cut into 1 ½-2-inch pieces (you can also cut them into small bars by cutting them into 1-inch pieces). Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Move to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. Don't overbake or they will be dry.
- Let them cool thoroughly on a wire rack.
Video
Notes
If you are looking for ways to mix up this recipe, let me share a few ideas.
One really simple way is to change the fig filling. You can use any other preserve you like- my favorite is raspberry filling. I love it!
You can make this an almond dough by adding ½ teaspoon almond extra with the egg and vanilla when you are mixing the dough.
Speaking of nuts, you can also add finely chopped nuts to the dough or even the filling. I love chopped hazelnuts and almonds.
If you want to add another flavor dimension, what about adding orange zest to the dough? You can add 1 tablespoon at the same time you add in the egg and vanilla. If you have not tried the orange fig combo, you have been missing out!