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Raw fig bars using fresh figs. The entire recipe is raw and grain-free, only requiring 30 minutes in the freezer before they’re ready to eat!Vegan, gluten-free and the perfect snack or healthy dessert!
I grew up eating Fig Newtons… my grandparents always had them which instantly makes me think only older people eat them?! Someone confirm! I vividly remember trying a real dried fig for the first time when I was older and was blown away by the fact that they tasted like nature’s fig newton! I’ve always been a fig lover but in talking to friends and family, I’ve realized you fall into one of two camps: you love figs or absolutely hate them.
Why eat figs?
Besides being delicious, figs are packed with nutrients! Figs are low in calories, high in fiber, high in calcium and high in antioxidants. They are a mildly sweet treat that are a great addition to so many recipes. I also highly recommend eating them with a little nut butter for a snack.
Fresh vs. Dried
Both fresh and dried figs are healthy additions to your diet! In my opinion, they’re completely different. I love the texture of dried figs but the flavour of fresh figs are out of this world. You really can’t go wrong…
I love using fresh figs for this recipe. I know they can be a little harder to find depending on where you live in the world. There are two seasons for figs – one in June and one late summer to fall. Most grocery stores will have figs during those times but if you’re lucky you’ll be able to find them year round. Look for plump figs, avoiding super wrinkled or oozing, mushy figs.
Raw Fig Bar Ingredients
There are two parts to this recipe: the fig filling and the crust and crumb layers.
Here’s what you need for the fig filling:
- fresh or dried figs
- ground flaxseed
Here’s what you need for the crust and crumble:
- raw almonds
- ground flaxseed
- medjool dates
- vanilla extract
- unsweetened almond milk
Once you have all of the ingredients and your food processor ready to roll, you’re well on your way to mastering these bars. They’re super simple to throw together, just take a lot of food processing and a little patience while they set in the freezer!
PrintRaw Fig Bars
Raw fig bars using fresh figs. The entire recipe is raw and grain-free, only requiring 30 minutes in the freezer before they’re ready to eat!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
Ingredients
For Fig Filling:
- 8 fresh black mission figs OR 1 cup of dried black mission figs*
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed (only use for fresh fig filling)
For Crust/Crumb Layer:
- 3 cups raw almonds
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
- 1 cup medjool dates
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Using plastic wrap fit a piece inside a 9×9 inch baking pan. Make sure piece is well fitted on the inside and hangs over sides.
For Fig Filling:
- Place fresh or dried figs in food processor and process until smooth.
- Add in ground flaxseed if using fresh figs.
- Remove from food processor and set aside. Clean food processor.
For Crust/Crumb Layer:
- Add almonds, flaxseed and dates to food processor and process for 1 minute.
- Add in vanilla extract and almond milk (starting with 1 T and adding another if mix is dry) and continue processing until mixture comes together into a sticky ball.
- Take 2/3 of mixture and flatten inside plastic wrapped baking pan using hands. Make sure “crust” is even.
- Top with fig filling. Spreading over crust using a spatula.
- Take remaining mixture and crumble over bars. Flatten pieces over fig filling just slightly using palm.
- Place in freezer for 30 minutes.
- Remove from freezer and pull bars out of pan by lifting up the plastic wrap.
- Cut into 12 bars.
- I store mine in the freezer to keep longer (several weeks) or store in fridge for up to 1 week.
*Soak dried figs in water for at least 1 hour before using and then drain water.
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Omg can you please just send me a batch of these right now. I’m not sure I can wait to get home to make this! I love figs. I think they should be a part of the menu everyday. People that don’t like figs … ummm what?!?! I didn’t know that was even an option! Thanks for sharing this – fingers crossed there are fresh figs at the market so I can get on making this recipe ASAP!
I’ve only ever tried fresh figs once, and they were pretty tasteless — almost like lettuce? I think I must have gotten a bad batch, though, since everyone’s always talking about how amazing they are. Dried figs, on the other hand, I freaking LOVE… especially with the little bit of crunch that the seeds provide 😀
I love figs! Fresh figs are so so yum. I’m not a huge fan of the dried variety. They really kind of lose something in the drying processing but I don’t hate them either. I have been OBSESSED with fig bars since becoming preggo. I eat them almost daily! I love your version.
Mhmmm these look fantastic! I keep eyeing figs at my grocery store, but am turned off by the price. Something like $6 for a small package 😯 . That 6 bucks would be well spent to make these, though! YUM!
Yum! I love figs and these bars look amazing!!
HAHA WHOA i do not appreciate this call out.
jk it made me smile at work.
figs… i do like. do i win back any respect for that? imma buy some figs at tj’s this week.
You will always have my love and respect <3
So I’ve only bought fresh figs once or twice, and I wasn’t actually all that impressed. Maybe I just got some lousy ones?
I LOVE figs! There is a fig tree in the garden of my Ex’s parents Beach House (does that make sense?) and everytime I am there I eat them all. I am the hated Ex because of that.
Just kidding. Dried figs are delicious as well, though my stomach don’t like them, too bad.
BUT, I hate pickles. Sorry…… 🙂
I’m a huge figs fan! I had a few figs last weeks, the first ones for me this year, but they weren’t very sweet and juicy 🙁 I hope the next ones will be awesome like I remember them!
You are indeed right – fresh figs don’t compare to the dry ones – but fresh ones are so expensive indeed! My mom has a friend who has a fig tree and every year I am supplied with a bag’s worth or figs- cannot wait to try these bars out when I get my stash!