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!
Tell Me About These Oatmeal Fig Bars
- Flavor: These oatmeal fig bars have cinnamon, nutmeg, fig, a hint of orange, brown sugar, vanilla, and maple, so there’s a lot of warm and cozy flavor happening in each bite. They would taste especially satisfying in the fall or winter seasons.
- Texture: The crust is soft and chewy, the fig filling is thick, sticky, and jammy, and the topping is crisp and crumbly. The crust and topping remind me of these soft oatmeal raisin granola bars, but with extra oat texture.
- Ease: The figs require a few minutes on the stove and then you need to puree it into a jam-like filling. Because the filling requires a little extra time and attention, I made sure the crust and topping are EASY. You need just 1 dough for both and it all comes together in 1 bowl. Very manageable.
The Jammy Fig Filling
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.
- If you have leftover dried figs, chop them up and add them to breakfast cookies or as a substitution for raisins in morning glory muffins, bran muffins, and oatmeal raisin cookies.
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.
Use 1 Oatmeal Dough For Crust & Topping
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.
How to Assemble Homemade Fig Bars
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!
Substitution Ideas
Here are some ingredient substitutions:
- Figs: I haven’t tested these bars with any alternative fillings. I’m sure the same amount of chopped dates or raisins (no need to chop the raisins) would work. Cook and puree them as instructed in the recipe.
- Orange Juice: Use fresh or bottled orange juice in the filling. If you don’t have orange juice, use water. (That would make the total amount of water needed = 10 Tablespoons.)
- Coconut Oil: You can use melted unsalted or salted butter instead. Just like when you make no-bake chocolate fudge oat bars, you need a fat that’s solid at room temperature, so do not replace with an oil that is liquid at room temperature.
- Maple Syrup: You can use honey instead of maple syrup.
- Brown Sugar: The only substitution for brown sugar that I’ve tested is coconut sugar and it worked wonderfully! Use the same amount.
- Egg: Though I haven’t tested this, 1/4 cup of applesauce should work just fine instead of the egg. I’ve used that substitution before in similar oatmeal/granola bar recipes.
- Whole Wheat Flour: I haven’t tested any gluten-free version of these bars, so let me know if you do! All-purpose flour works as a substitution for whole wheat flour.
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.
PrintHomemade Oatmeal Fig Bars
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours (includes cooling)
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
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.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 and 1/2 cups (about 230g) chopped dried figs, stems removed
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) orange juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Crust & Topping
- 1/3 cup (70g) coconut oil, melted (or use melted butter)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 and 2/3 cups (142g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats (or quick oats)*
- 1 cup (130g) whole wheat flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- 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.
- Make the filling: 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.
- Make the crust/topping: 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.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: Freeze cut bars in single layers between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before enjoying.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 8-inch Square Baking Pan | Medium Saucepan | Food Processor | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Wooden Spoon or Rubber Spatula | Offset Icing Spatula (for filling) | Cooling Rack
- Dried Figs: There are many brands of dried figs out there. I use and love a brand called Sunny Fruit. These 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. Do not use fresh figs in this recipe. 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.
- Fig Jam: Readers have asked about using fig jam. I have not tested it to be certain, but I can’t see why that wouldn’t work instead of the homemade filling. You’ll need about 1 and 1/4 cups jam.
- Oats: Whole oats are best, but you can use quick oats if needed. The crust/topping will just be a little more crumbly. (Don’t be tempted to reduce the flour, though– it may turn out greasy.) Use a 1:1 swap from whole oats to quick oats.
- Substitutions: For any substitution information, see section above recipe.
Do you double for 13X9?
You can double the recipe for a 9×13 inch pan (or 1.5x will work too), but I’m unsure of the best bake time.
Oh my, I made these yesterday for the first time and they are so good. I followed the recipe exactly except I thought I had regular oats (note to self, always check ingredient availability BEFORE getting half way into making recipe) but didn’t so I had no choice but to use instant oats. I don’t know how much difference that may have made because they were so good, especially today after they stayed in the fridge overnight. I set a bar out to reach room temp while I ate my meal. This recipe goes into definite rotation, next time with regular oats. If that makes a lot of difference, then I’ll repost but they were good with the instant oats–again, everything here recipe ingredients.
Had a bunch of figs from winter to use up. Made this as is, using King Arthur’s gluten free flour since wheat is a no, but otherwise as written. Oh my it was tough waiting until they cooled to gobble. Flavorful, slightly crunchy on that crust, delicious filling, yum. Well that’s going on the repeat list. Thanks!
I’d bought a large bag of organic figs at Costco and was looking for a way to use them up. I softened the figs first by covering with boiling water, then made the recipe as written. Delicious!
Good stuff here. I just made my second batch using “Roasted Figs from Calabria”. Like fig bars on steroids. The figs have a very intense flavor that works amazingly well with this recipe.
Delicious! I used white flour instead of wheat. Also used the Costco fig marmalade as the fig filling. Grandkids love them!
Made these today with my grandson , substituted applesauce for the egg because of his peanut allergy and used dates instead of figs because that is what I already had in my pantry.These turned out fabulous and will definitely make again.
I cannot get over how amazing this recipe is! I have made about 6 batches of these over the last month. I use fresh-milled, hard red whole wheat flour and the melted butter option. They are perfect every time. Definitely my family’s latest addiction! Sally never disappoints.
Your recipes are always so healthful. I love it that you use coconut oil for these. I added walnuts to the figs.
I just stuck this in the oven, and it’s going to be delicious. I wish I had just used half of the oatmeal mixture on the bottom, because it seemed very scant on top. There may be a reason for that, which I will find out in the baking process.
So easy to make and so yummy to eat.
Really good
Oh my, these are soo good! I liked Fig Newtons as a kid, but they can’t compare with these bars. There is just the right amount of sweetness, and chewiness. The top and bottom oatmeal crust adds some crunch. I like to keep them in the fridge – they are even better when cool. It is tough to resist eating one after another!
Delicious. I substituted the same amount of dates for figs, and added the zest of half the orange after juicing it. They were a hit. I would make them again. Someone else commented they will try with dried apricots which sounds fab. Thanks Sally!
These were delicious! They are actually even better the next day. Perfect moisture and amount of sweetness. I think I’ll add a touch more cinnamon next time because I love it.
Can i use fresh figs, I have figo trees
Hi Rosi, we’ve only tested this filling with dried figs, so we’re unsure of what adaptations would be needed for fresh figs. If you decide to try anything, let us know how it goes!
Huge hit at our house. I have made these with fig, dried apple(use more liquid with those), mango. Making again today with apricot. Even my picky 16 year old scarfs these down
I used a lot of substitutions, like things I already had: Unsalted butter, molasses, maple syrup, Bob’s Old Fashioned Muesli, plain flour & baking powder, 1 egg. Forgot I had 1/2 apple sauce servings, 9″ pan, lined like specified, but I used another 9″ pan covered with a plastic bag to squash bottom crust flatter and more compact. Store bought Fig Preserves. They’re in the oven now and smell Devine. I’ll freeze them if they turn out too gooey. Keep my fingers crossed. My husband can hardly wait to sample. TQ.
I love the Natures Bakery fig bars and will try the recipe as is tonight! However, my kids are big fans of the flavored ones- do you have any suggestions for making something close to the blueberry version? Thanks!
Hi Ilana! We haven’t tested a blubbery version of these bars so can’t say for sure. You could try swapping dried figs for dried blueberries to see how that goes. Let us know if you give anything a try!
These fig bars are soooo good!
Is it possible to double the recipe for a 9×13 pan?
Hi Jamie, that should work! We’re unsure of the exact bake time.
Great work on this recipe! I ended up using a silicone baking sheet on an 11×7 pan and baked for a little over 25 minutes. Instead of heating up the filling in a saucepan, since I had a lot of fresh figs I picked from a tree this afternoon I ended up just putting chopped fresh figs, a little water as the fresh figs were already moist, and
a little bit of lime juice, because I didn’t have orange juice and I wanted some citrus, into a blender and made the filling that way. Delicious and I can’t wait to have it for breakfast tomorrow!
I have a fig tree that is spitting forth fruit like crazy! I saw this recipe and thought “Awesome!” So I made a double batch and just popped it into the oven, thrilled that I would soon have awesome fig bars….until I read to not use fresh figs, oops! …why?
Hi Nancy, a filling starting with dried figs is all we’ve tested. Please let us know how your turns out!
Great recipe. I used mashed fig preserves for the filling. Will add 1/4 cups of finely chopped pecans to the crust for the next batch . (Husbands suggestion, so I’ll give it a try.) Thank you.
Amazing! Subbed GF flour and 1/4 cup of applesauce for the egg, turned out amazing.
Made it and love it. How if I want to try egg free this time. What’s good for substution?
Thanks!!
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, Lily! We haven’t tested any egg substitutes, but let us know if you do give anything a try.
I have made this recipe over a dozen times and have made a former comment. I continue to love these fig bars every single time! It’s great to follow the recipe exactly but is a success with substitutions if you so desire. This time I used dried figs, dates and cherries. I used a flax egg for the large egg and gluten free flour. For all of you vegan bakers, it’s delicious as well. Thank you again for this recipe!
Hi Sally, we’re so glad that you love these bars!
These are great! Simple to make also. I love using figs, one of natures candies. I used small drop letters of crust on the top and then patted it down. Perfect! Thanks again Sally!
can you give me the carbs and fiber content?
Hi Patricia, We don’t usually include nutrition information as it can vary between different brands of the same ingredients, and many recipes have ingredient substitutions or optional ingredients. However, there are many great online calculators where you can plug in your exact ingredients like this one: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
You are a genius. I chose your recipe largely because I refuse to buy store cookies that mostly use Canola oil. I so prefer coconut oil. The big bonus is these are delicious. I couldn’t find my 8” pan so used a square area of my 9×13. It worked fine except as one commenter said about being a bit difficult to spread. It kept widening. That didn’t really cause much of a problem.
Your directions and info on substitutions were super helpful. I like knowing why I am doing something. I used a bag of figs bit was a 1/4 cup short so filled in with raisins. Thank you. I appreciated all of the detail and pictures.
These will become a regular treat and lunchbox item in our family.
Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
I made these with a honey fig spread from the grocery. I used about a jar and a half of 12 ounce jars. The bars are delicious! The only issue I had was spreading the topping. It was difficult to spread it smoothly. I think next time, I will put dollops of the topping all over the fig jam rather than dumping one “plop” in the middle. I think that would spread more smoothly. Thanks for the recipe, Sally, it’s a keeper!
Try just crumbling topping from your hand.