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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Desserts

    Vegan Fig Bars

    Last Modified: Jun 17, 2022 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    image collage of figs, oats, and other ingredients and the finished fig bar
    fig bars on a serving plate
    close-up of a hand holding a vegan fig bar
    image collage showing the layers after pressing into the pan and the fig bars after baking and slicing on the cutting board

    Vegan fig bars starring homemade, no-cook fig jam and a whole grain crust. Think of these as healthy, vegan fig newtons!

    close-up of a hand holding a vegan fig bar

    These hearty, chewy vegan fig bars are perfect for breakfast or when you're craving a sweet treat. And they're super easy to make!

    Jump To:
    • Recipe notes
    • Making the fig jam filling
    • Assembling the fig newtons
    • Worried that figs aren't vegan?
    • Storage directions
    • Vegan fig bars recipe

    Recipe notes

    The crust for these vegan fig newtons is basically a granola bar. It uses quick oats -- the kind that cooks up in a minute -- for the crust.

    labeled photo of fig bar ingredients

    I am using quick oats here instead of rolled oats because they're broken down a bit, but don't worry! This is still a whole grain recipe. Quick oats are just oats that have been blended quickly into smaller pieces.

    Add the quick oats to a large bowl with the rest of the dry ingredients: more oats, a touch of brown sugar, flax meal, and salt.

    Now, in a small bowl, whisk together tahini or your favorite nut butter with vanilla extract, applesauce, maple syrup, and a little bit of water.

    image collage showing dry ingredients, wet ingredients, mixing them together, and the finished granola dough

    Combine the wet and try ingredients, mixing until you have a dough that will stay in a ball. If needed, you can add more water, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach that texture.

    Then, it's time to make the no-cook jam filling!

    Making the fig jam filling

    There's no need to stand over the stove to make this vegan fig jam! You make the filling for these vegan fig bars in your blender or food processor.

    To make the jam, combine figs, maple syrup, and lemon juice in your blender or food processor. Blend until you have a sticky jam.

    image collage of fig spread ingredients in the food processor and the finished spread in a jar

    Depending on how dry your figs are, you may need to add water by the teaspoon to reach the desired consistency. If your figs have been sitting for a while -- either in your pantry or at the grocery store -- they may be a bit more dried out.

    Assembling the fig newtons

    To assemble the fig bars, line an 8x8" baking pan with parchment paper, and press half of the dough into the bottom. Then, spread the fig jam all over.

    image collage showing the layers after pressing into the pan and the fig bars after baking and slicing on the cutting board

    Top it off by carefully pressing the remaining dough into the pan. The oat topping is going to want to press into the jam layer, so I like to break up the dough into four or five pieces, and scatter them on top. Then, gently spread those out until you have a single, top layer of dough.

    Then, you are ready to bake!

    Let the fig bars cool in the baking pan for 10 minutes before you pop them out. Then, let them cool for another 10 minutes before you slice and serve.

    fig bars on a serving plate

    Worried that figs aren't vegan?

    There is an urban myth out there that figs aren't vegan, but don't worry! Figs are totally vegan.

    Now that we've cleared that up, let's make some vegan fig bars, y'all!

    Storage directions

    Store leftover fig bars in an airtight container. They will keep for 2-3 days in the pantry or for up to a week in the fridge.

    If you have to stack them to store, place a piece of parchment paper between rows, so the bars don't stick together.

    To freeze, layer them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers. They will keep for three months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.

    close-up of a hand holding a vegan fig bar

    Vegan fig bars recipe

    Vegan fig bars starring homemade, no-cook fig jam and a whole grain crust. Think of these as healthy, vegan fig newtons!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: vegan fig bars, vegan fig newtons
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Cooling Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 230kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    For the crust

    • 2 cups quick oats - the kind that cooks in one minute
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup flax meal
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅓ cup tahini or nut butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup applesauce
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon water

    For the fig filling

    • 14 ounces dried mission figs - stems removed
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons water

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° F and line an 8x8" pan with parchment paper.
    • Soak the figs in hot water for 10 minutes while you're making the crust.

    Make the crust

    • In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flax meal, and salt.
    • In a smaller bowl, combine the tahini, vanilla, applesauce, maple syrup, and water.
    • Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and stir well. Set this aside while you make the filling.

    Make the filling

    • Drain the figs, then combine them with maple syrup, lemon juice, and water in your food processor, and run it until you have a sticky jam-like mixture. You can add more water, a teaspoon at a time, if you need to get things moving. It depends on how dry your figs are.

    Assemble & bake

    • Press half of the oat dough into the bottom of your lined baking pan. Press the fig mixture into the pan on top of the dough. Carefully press the remaining oat dough on top of the fig layer (see note).
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is browned on the edges. Let the bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes before you pop them out. Then, let them cool on the cutting board for 10 more minutes before you slice and serve them.

    Equipment

    • food processor

    Video

    Notes

    The oat topping is going to want to press into the jam layer, so I like to break up the dough into four or five pieces, and scatter them on top. Then, gently spread those out until you have a single, top layer of dough.
    Store leftover fig bars in an airtight container. They will keep for 2-3 days in the pantry or for up to a week in the fridge. If you have to stack them, place a piece of parchment paper between rows, so the bars don't stick together.
    To freeze, layer them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers. They will keep for three months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan fig bars recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    230
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    6
    g
    9
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    5
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Sodium
     
    123
    mg
    5
    %
    Potassium
     
    351
    mg
    10
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    43
    g
    14
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    24
    %
    Sugar
     
    25
    g
    28
    %
    Protein
     
    5
    g
    10
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    32
    IU
    1
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    2
    mg
    2
    %
    Calcium
     
    83
    mg
    8
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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