These oatmeal fig bars are a homemade variation of store-bought fig bars. They’re made with oats, whole wheat flour, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried figs, and a few basics. They’re wholesome and satisfying and keep wonderfully for back-to-school snacks and lunches all week long. Kitchen tools required include a food processor and an 8- or 9-inch baking pan. (I use and recommend 8-inch.)
Have you ever tried the fig bars by the brand Nature’s Bakery before? We love them. Store-bought fig bars (like Nabisco Fig Newtons or Nature’s Bakery) have a smooth, soft, and thin “crust.” Today’s homemade fig bars aren’t exactly like the ones you can find in a store because they’re thicker, have more texture, and are obviously homemade. I love all that! If you’re looking for homemade snack bars/granola bars, these oatmeal fig bars have been a big hit, and I have many other granola bars published too!
Dried figs are the star of the show in these oatmeal fig bars. There are many brands of dried figs out there and it can be confusing if you’re a first-time dried fig shopper! I use and love a brand called Sunny Fruit. You can find this brand in some stores or online. (I am not working with this brand, but that is an affiliate link. Truly the brand I use and love because they’re plump and tasty. There are cheaper options out there and in stores.) Most grocery stores carry dried figs either in the produce or dried fruit aisle. The kind I use for this recipe are Turkish figs which are often labeled as Smyrna figs. There are also Black Mission dried figs, which aren’t quite as large as Smyrna figs. You can use either variety in this recipe. Do not use fresh figs.
Dried figs can be quite small and shriveled or you can find plumper rehydrated figs. Either will work here because we are cooking the chopped dried figs for the filling. Chop up your dried figs until you have about 230g, which is 1 and 1/2 cups. Cook the figs on the stove with water and a little orange juice. Cooking the figs in liquid heats and softens them so we can puree the mixture into a deliciously jammy filling. Off heat, stir in a little vanilla extract and then cool the mixture for a few minutes before processing into a puree.
*Use this fig filling elsewhere: This vanilla and orange-hinted fig filling would be wonderful served on a charcuterie board with your favorite cheeses and crackers. If you wish to thin it out so it’s more spreadable on a cracker, add a Tablespoon of orange juice or warm water to the mixture before pureeing.
One and done. With layered bars, it’s always convenient when you have 1 mixture that doubles as your crust AND topping. S’mores bars, healthy berry streusel bars, cherry pie bars, oatmeal lemon crumble bars, and cranberry crumble bars utilize this same convenience! To make things even easier, mix all of the crust/topping ingredients together in 1 bowl. You need a handful of simple ingredients including melted coconut oil (or use melted butter), maple syrup, brown sugar, egg, oats, whole wheat flour (or use all-purpose), baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
The full printable recipe and instructions are below, but let me show you how these bars come together before you get started. Press about 2/3 of the crust/topping mixture into the bottom of a lined square baking pan, making sure it’s flat and even. I use and recommend an 8-inch square baking pan (I like this one or this one), but a 9-inch square pan works for thinner bars. Spread fig filling on top. Press remaining crust/topping mixture evenly on top. Very easy!
Here are some ingredient substitutions:
I’m unsure of the nutritional information for these, but feel free to calculate it yourself using an online nutrition calculator with the exact products/brands you use.
These oatmeal fig bars are a homemade variation of store-bought fig bars. You need a blender or food processor for the filling. For more information on the dried figs or for substitutions, see text above this printable recipe.
