Homemade Fig Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free!) - Maebells (2024)

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You will love these healthier Fig Bars for a sweet treat. The bars feature an almond flour crust, sweet fig filling, and a crumble topping!

Homemade Fig Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free!) - Maebells (1)

Raise your hand if you are excited for fig season! I am! Actually, figs are pretty difficult to find in our area, so when I spotted them last week I scooped them up. I loved Fig Newtons as a kid and wanted to create some kind of lower carb treat that featured that sweet caramely, fig flavor. These healthy fig bars totally fit the bill.

Actually, Mr. Maebell was not enthusiastic at all when he saw the chopped up figs. It was a dessert he wasn’t interested in having. And I get it, figs look pretty weird. But when they were baking and the air was full of that sweet brown sugar aroma, he was on board.

Figs are a fruit that have a delicious sweet flavor. They can be eaten with or without the peel. For a fruit, they are relatively low in carbs and have a good dose of fiber. This makes the net carbs lower than most.

Figs pair really well with cheese for a sweet and savory combo. You may have seen them on beautiful cheeseboards with honey and crackers or on a pizza with prosciutto and gorgonzola. They are one of the rare fruits that work beautifully in desserts and also on savory, salty dishes.

While these bars do have that delicious flavor of a Fig Newton cookie, these are way better. They feature a shortbread-like cookie crust that is soft and buttery. The filling is just figs and brown sugar (or Swerve brown sugar for a lower carb version). The topping is an oatmeal crumble sprinkled with pecans. The layers are rich and perfectly complement one another.

Homemade Fig Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free!) - Maebells (2)

Ingredients in Homemade Fig Bars

To make these homemade Fig Newton bars, I used:

  • Butter
  • Almond flour
  • Brown sugar
  • Fresh figs
  • Old-fashioned oats
  • Pecans
  • Cinnamon
  • Salt

How to Make Fig Bars

  1. First, you’ll need to make the crust.In a small mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients until a soft dough forms
  2. Press into an 8×8-inch foil-lined pan and bake for 6 minutes.
  3. Then, move onto the fig filling. Place the chopped figs and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium high heat, stirring and breaking up the figs.
  4. As soon as the mixture begins to simmer, reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally. Remove from heat when the figs are completely broken up and the mixture resembles jam of fruit spread.
  5. Last but not least, the crumble topping. In a blender or food processor, combine all of the crumble topping ingredients and pulse until coarsely blended.
  6. Spread the fig mixture over the pre-baked crust and top with the crumble topping. Bake until done.

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Can I Double This Recipe?

Yes! You can double the ingredients list and bake the bars in a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Can I Make This Recipe Low-Carb?

Yes! Use brown sugar swerve instead of regular brown sugar.

Tips for Making Homemade Fig Bars

  • If you can’t find fresh figs where you live, substitute the homemade fig filling with store-bought fig jam.
  • For gluten-free fig bars, use certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats.
  • These homemade fig bars are especially delicious warm with a scoop of ice cream.

More Low-Carb Desserts:

  • Keto Peanut Butter Brownies
  • Keto French Silk Pie
  • Keto No-Bake Cookies
  • Keto Butter Pecan Blondies
  • The Best Keto Lemon Bars

Homemade Fig Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free!) - Maebells (4)

Homemade Fig Bars

Annie Holmes

You will love these healthier Fig Bars for a sweet treat. The bars feature an almond flour crust, sweet fig filling, and a crumble topping!

4.41 from 183 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 31 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 1 minute min

Servings 9

Calories 265 kcal

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 4 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

For the Filling

  • 7 fresh figs quartered
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar

For the Crumble Topping:

  • 1/3 cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1/3 cup pecans
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

Make the crust:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, lightly spray with baking spray and set aside.

  • In a small mixing bowl combine the crust ingredients: melted butter, brown sugar and almond flour until a soft dough forms.

  • Press into the foil lined pan and bake for 6 minutes, crust should be set but not cooked all the way through.

Make the filling:

  • Place the chopped figs and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium high heat, stirring and breaking up the figs.

  • As soon as the mixture begins to simmer reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally. Remove from heat when the figs are completely broken up and the mixture resembles jam of fruit spread. (about 20 minutes).

  • Remove from heat and allow to cool a few minutes.

Make the crumble topping:

  • In a blender or food processor combine all of the crumble topping ingredients and pulse until coarsely blended.

Assemble the bars:

  • Spread the fig mixture over the pre-baked crust and top with the crumble topping.

  • Bake 20-25 minutes.

Video

Notes

Brown sugar alternative: You may use swerve brown sugar instead for a lower carb option.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 25.3gProtein: 3gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 81mgFiber: 3gSugar: 25g

Keyword fig bars, fig bars recipe, gluten free fig bars, healthy fig bars

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Homemade Fig Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free!) - Maebells (2024)

FAQs

Are fig bars healthy? ›

Conclusions. Nature's Bakery Fig Bars contain some healthy food ingredients and are more nutritious than most regular candy bars. The gluten-free variations contain a blend of five grains with significant health properties.

Are fig bars made from figs? ›

Indulge in the nostalgia of homemade fig bars. Made with dried figs, cinnamon, and honey, these delicious bars taste like childhood.

Are fig bars keto? ›

As we have established, Fig Bars or Rolls, despite their pleasing flavor profile, unfortunately, don't provide a keto-friendly option due to their high carbohydrate content.

Are fig bars vegan? ›

Our Fig Bars are Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan Certified, no high fructose corn syrup, no trans-fat, and no cholesterol.

Are fig bars anti inflammatory? ›

Fig Bars for Athletes

Figs have anti-inflammatory properties, which help alleviate pain and recover from muscle fatigue, once an intense workout or competition is over. As a true superfood, figs help prevent cramps and optimize hydration, and the potassium helps balance sodium concentration to lower blood pressure.

How many figs should you eat in a day? ›

When it comes to raw fruit, you can easily have 2-3 figs in a day. If you are having dried figs, stick to 3 figs and do not have them without soaking overnight. Our body can absorb the nutrients and digest some dried fruits and nuts in a better way when they are soaked well.

Are fig bars good for blood pressure? ›

Rich in potassium, figs restore balance and help lower blood pressure. This sweet, chewy, and slightly crunchy fruit deserves to break free of the cookie and into your heart-healthy diet.

Are figs mold or sugar? ›

If you've ever wondered, what is the white powder on your Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried Figs, you might think it's mold, but more likely, it's actually naturally occurring fruit sugar crystals. This common occurrence is called sugaring on figs.

What alcoholic drink is made from figs? ›

Boukha (Tunisian Arabic: بوخة) is a distilled beverage produced from figs. It originated in the Tunisian Jewish community, where most of it is still produced.

Can fig bars cause constipation? ›

Figs may cause digestive upset or diarrhea due to their anti-constipation effects. They may also interfere with blood thinners, and some people may be allergic to them.

Can you eat fig bars for breakfast? ›

For some children, a fig bar and a cup of raw milk or coconut milk would be the perfectly portioned breakfast. For others, a fig breakfast bar with a side of hard boiled eggs or sausage and a cup of yogurt will be best.

What are fig bars called? ›

"Fig Newtons" are the most popular variety (fig rolls filled with fig paste). They are produced by an extrusion process. Their distinctive shape is a characteristic that has been adopted by competitors, including generic fig bars sold in many markets.

Are there wasp eggs in fig bars? ›

Are figs wasp eggs? No. While female wasps lay eggs within a fig fruit, the crunch you experience when eating a fig does not come from those eggs. All wasps have either exited the fig or their exoskeletons have been broken down and absorbed by the fruit.

Are fig bars actually healthy? ›

They are also fairly healthy. Figs are well known for having fiber, which helps with digestion, as well as protein and several vitamins and minerals. This means there are quite a few health benefits of fig bars like fig Newtons.

Do fig bars have added sugar? ›

So Much More Than Sweet

Granulated sugar and brown sugar are typically in fig bars and they do more than just sweeten the cookies. Sugar adds structure to the dough. So, it plays a necessary part in the recipe.

What is the healthiest snack bar? ›

12 Healthiest Snack Bars According to a Dietitian
  • Kind Nut Bars. ...
  • RxBar Protein Bars. ...
  • GoMacro Protein Bars. ...
  • LaraBar Original Fruit and Nut Bars. ...
  • That's It Fruit Bars. ...
  • Perfect Bars. ...
  • Epic Protein Bars. ...
  • 88 Acres Protein Bars.
May 7, 2024

Are figs a healthy snack? ›

Figs are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants and provide fiber and smaller amounts of a variety of minerals. They may also support digestive, gut, and menstrual health, improve inflammatory conditions, aid weight management, and offer cancer protection.

How healthy is fig jam? ›

Gives an energy boost: Fig jam's carbohydrate and sugar content help to boost the energy levels of your body. It provides the energy needed to perform our regular chores. Prevents ageing of skin: Because of its antioxidants and its anti-collagenase qualities, it reduces wrinkle depth and keeps the skin young.

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