Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (2024)

Oct 8, 2018

Dairy FreeEgglessGluten FreeHigh FiberLow FatSugar FreeVegan

What’s got a chewy, cakey cookie crust and a soft, sweet, and figgy filling? These Healthy Homemade Fig Bars of course,made with Truvia® Natural Sweetener — my favorite zero-calorie, natural sweetener (it’s made from the stevia leaf)!

This easy Fig Bar recipe is 100% whole grain, gluten free, and vegan, with zero added sugar.

Who needs store-bought when you’ve got these thick and chewy slices of heaven? No one. That’s who. Kids and adults alike will fall in love with these hearty, not-too-sweet, good-for-you treats!

Thanks to Truvia for sponsoring this post, and thank YOU for supporting the brands that keep Desserts With Benefits going! All opinions are mine and mine alone!

Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (1)

These gluten-free Fig Bars are actually very simple to make, despite looking like they took hours and hours to make. After preparing the Fig Jam (and scooping a big spoonful into your mouth for… quality assurance 😉 ) — all you need to do is mix and roll out the dough, spoon the jam on top, roll it into a log, slice, and bake! Easy peasyfiggy squeezy.

Right after baking, these Fig Bars are pretty firm. But after spending a night in a sealed container, DANG MA, they’re super soft and chewy and TO. DIE. FOR.

Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (2)

This Fig Bar recipe isbetter than store-bought! Best of all, you’d never know these large and hearty figgy slices are healthy, gluten free, and vegan, with no sugar added!

Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (3)

Healthy Homemade Fig Bars

Servings: 12 JUMBO Fig Bars

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Ingredients

Homemade Fig Jam:

Fig Bars:

  • 240g (2 cups) Oat Flour
  • 3 tbs Truvia Spoonable
  • 1 tsp Double Acting Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ¼ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 2 tbs Coconut Oil (melted; +1 tsp for brushing after baking)
  • tbs Water
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Homemade Fig Jam (recipe above)

Instructions

For the Homemade Fig Jam:

  • In a small saucepan (use a wide and shallow one, not a tall and narrow one), add the dried figs, Truvia, orange juice, and water. Let soak for 1 hour.

  • Cover with a lid and place the saucepan over medium heat. Keeping cover on, cook for ~20 minutes, or until the figs are super soft and can be easily mushed with a fork. Let cool completely.

  • Blend in a high speed blender (I used my Vitamix) until a spreadable paste.

For the Fig Bars:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the oat flour, Truvia, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, the melted 2 tbs of coconut oil, water, and vanilla extract. Dump the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir together until it forms a thick dough. Roll the dough out between two silicone baking sheets until ¼” thick. Slice into a large rectangle (about 8” x 18” long).

  • Spread the fig jam in a center line down the dough rectangle.

  • Fold the dough over the fig filling like a pamphlet. Start by lifting one side of the silicone baking sheet, gently pressing on it so the dough sticks to the fig filling, then repeat on the other side.

  • Flip the Fig Bar “log” so the seam side is down, then slice. Place the silicone baking sheet on a cookie sheet and space the Fig Bars apart a couple inches or so. Bake for 12 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven and brush the melted 1 tsp of coconut oil on top of the bars. Let cool, then store in a tightly sealed container overnight so they can soften. Enjoy the following day!

Recipe Notes

The Fig Jam recipe makes 2 cups (550g) total. You need 1 cup to make the Fig Bars.

The Fig Bar recipe makes 12 Fig Bars. They're LARGE! One is probably equal to 2-3 store-bought Fig Newtons.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Bars, Blondies & Brownies

Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (5)

To make these gluten-free, I used a base of oat flour, bound together with a little bit of applesauce, coconut oil, and water, and lightly sweetened with Truvia. To make the Homemade Fig Jam, all you need are 3 ingredients: figs, orange juice, and Truvia!

I’ve been using Truvia foryearsnow. I think I first discovered it in college when I switched from those overly sweetened flavored yogurts to plain yogurt. I missed the sweetness of the flavored yogurts, though, so I started adding a couple packets of Truvia to my plain yogurt and BOOM! I found love 🙂

Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (6)

The ingredient list for these Healthy Homemade Fig Bars is way better than the store-bought version. It’s about time this classic pantry staple has been made better! No need for the added sugars, preservatives, artificial flavors, or unnecessary ingredients here. Every bite of these bars will bring you back to the old days 🙂

Enjoy!

.

With love and good eats,

.

–Jess

.

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Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (7)

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Healthy Homemade Fig Bar Recipe | no sugar added, gluten free, vegan (2024)

FAQs

Which fig bars are healthy? ›

Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars Variety Pack - 14 Count offers a convenient and tasty snack option for those looking to satisfy their hunger cravings. These bars are made from all-natural, non-GMO ingredients, making them a healthier snack option compared to many other processed snack foods on the market.

Are fig bars vegan? ›

Do fig bars contain dairy or eggs? No, they are Certified Vegan.

Can I freeze figs to make jam later? ›

Freeze with or without sugar syrup. Freeze figs firm-ripe and whole for making preserves later. In syrup: Make syrup by dissolving 1 cup sugar in 2 cups water. Allow 1 cup syrup for each quart of figs.

Are fig bars healthy for weight loss? ›

This can help to reduce overeating and, as a result, can aid in weight loss. Figs also provide a stable level of energy due to their natural sugars, making fig bars a great option for those needing a quick energy boost during the day or athletes who need sustained energy during workouts.

Can you eat too many fig bars? ›

The side effects of eating figs are: Because figs contain a lot of fiber, eating too many of them can cause diarrhea. Figs are high in calories, so eating a lot of them will not help lose weight. Individuals who are allergic to rubber latex or birch pollen could be allergic to figs.

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.

Why do some vegans not eat figs? ›

Why can't vegans eat figs? Some vegans see the mutual relationship between wasps and figs as animal exploitation and ultimately animal consumption. They, therefore, avoid figs entirely. Most vegans, however, consider figs to be vegan and consume them.

Are there wasp eggs in fig bars? ›

If the wasp climbs into a female fig, she pollinates it, but cannot lay her eggs and just dies alone. Luckily for us, the female fig produces an enzyme that digests this wasp completely. The crunchy bits are seeds, not wasp parts.

Which kind bars are vegan friendly? ›

All of our Whole Fruit bar flavors are vegan, as well as most of our KIND Healthy Grains® clusters (excluding Oats & Honey Clusters with Toasted Coconut and Almond Butter Whole Grain Clusters).

What to do with fresh figs off the tree? ›

Top 12 ways to serve figs
  1. Jams and chutneys. Ripe and juicy figs are ideal for turning into homemade jams and tangy chutneys. ...
  2. Pies and tarts. Figs + pastry = endless possibilities. ...
  3. Salads. ...
  4. Cakes. ...
  5. Served with meat. ...
  6. Puddings. ...
  7. Served with cheese. ...
  8. Pizzas and breads.

Can you freeze fresh figs off the tree? ›

You can freeze figs whole or cut them in half or even quarters. Wash your figs before cutting or freezing whole, and make sure to dry them well. Lay figs out on a baking sheet in a single layer, and make sure the tray isn't too crowded.

What is the difference between fig jam and fig preserves? ›

Fig jam is generally cooked for a shorter period of time, allowing the figs to soften and break down to a smoother consistency. Fig preserves, on the other hand, are cooked for a longer duration to maintain the shape and texture of the figs while infusing them with the syrup or preserving liquid.

How many figs should I eat a day to lose weight? ›

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.

Why do fig bars have so much sugar? ›

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.

Can you eat fig bars at night? ›

Figs have an impressive amount of sleep-promoting potassium, in addition to magnesium and calcium.

Are nature bakery 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.

What is the healthiest snack bar? ›

6 Healthy Snacks that Raise the Bar
  • KIND Nut Bars. Take this Caramel Almond & Sea Salt bar as an example. ...
  • Bob's Red Mill Granola Bars. ...
  • NuGo Slim Bars. ...
  • Simply Protein Snack Bars. ...
  • 88 Acres Seed + Oat Bars. ...
  • Luna Bars by CLIFF.
Dec 10, 2023

What kind of fig is the best? ›

The Best Tasting Fig Varieties
  • Black Madeira.
  • Coll de Dama.
  • Hivernenca.
  • Hative d'Argentueil.
  • Paradiso.
Jan 31, 2023

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