Fig Date Bars Food

DATE BAR RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the dates and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once the water starts to boil, reduce the heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the water has thickened and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda until combined. Add the butter and continue to process until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add in the oats and water and pulse until combined.
• Press half of the oat mixture onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a spatula or your hands. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Spread the date mixture over the partially baked crust and then sprinkle the remainder oat mixture over the dates. Lightly press down. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the tops of the crust is a light golden brown. Let cool completely and then slice into bars or squares. Enjoy!

HOMEMADE OATMEAL FIG BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8-inch (what I use and recommend) or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars when they have cooled. Set aside.
• Combine the chopped dried figs, water, and orange juice together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook while stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes or until figs are soft and have absorbed some of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until there are no more chunks (fig seeds will not break down). Set aside. Makes *about* 1 and 1/4 cups filling.
• In a large bowl, whisk the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and egg together. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Begin whisking to combine and once the mixture becomes too thick, switch to a spoon or rubber spatula to bring the ingredients together. You will have about 2 and 1/2 cups of this crust/topping mixture.
• Take a little over 1 and 1/2 cups of the crust/topping mixture and press it evenly into the lined pan. Spread fig filling in an even layer on top. Spoon remaining crust/topping mixture evenly on top and gently press it down into the filling to ensure it's tight and compact on top.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top has lightly browned. Avoid over-baking. 8 inch pans take closer to 30 minutes, 9 inch pans take closer to 25 minutes. (Note: Oil/moisture will soak on the parchment paper during the baking & cooling process. That's normal with this recipe.) Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Cool bars completely.
• Lift the bars out using the parchment paper overhang on the sides. Cut into squares.
• Cover leftover bars and store at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

FIG AND DATE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x4 inch baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine the dates, figs, butter and baking soda. Pour in the boiling water, stir well and let stand for 15 minutes.
• Beat the sugar, walnuts and eggs into the date mixture. Combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the date mixture just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

BEST DATE BARS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine dates, sugar and water. Cook, stirring frequently, until very thick. Stir in walnuts, if desired; cool. , Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together in a large bowl; add oats and brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle water over mixture; stir lightly. Pat half into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with date mixture; cover with remaining oat mixture and pat lightly. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

RAISIN, DATE AND FIG FILLING (USE WITH 1-2-3-4 BAR RECIPE)

Steps:

• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 5 minutes).
• Cool.