Oatmeal Fig Bars (Gluten Free + Vegan)

These Oatmeal Fig Bars are one of my favorite ways to use fresh figs! These gluten-free + vegan bars taste like healthy Fig Neutons, but without the guilt or refined sugar. Enjoy them for breakfast or as a snack!

So, are you guys on Snapchat? If so…what do you think about the new Instagram Stories? It’s clear that Instagram totally knocked off Snapchat’s story feature. I must admit, I’ve been using Snapchat for years and I prefer Snapchat stories because I love all the location filters and that you can speed up/slow down/make yourself beautiful.

However, I’ve got to admit, it’s awfully convenient having my Instagram followers being able to see everything on one app without having to send people over to Snapchat to “see more” of whatever. I’ve only been using Instagram stories for a day and a half, and there’s no way I can do stories on both, so one’s going to have to give. Any preference from you? Will Instagram or Snapchat prevail?!

If you did happen to see my first day of Instagram stories, you saw these glorious oatmeal fig bars being made from start to finish. I had already photographed these after they were a HIT when I first made them, but the photographs were less than thrilling.

I went on a fig hunt and found a BIG container at Costco, so a new batch and photo shoot was in store for the fig bars. Thankfully, these pictures are way better and the fig bars taste just as good as they did the first time.

Are you a Fig Neuton fan? Because if you are, you’ll definitely love these Oatmeal Fig Bars. They’re not Fig Neuton copycats exactly, and I wasn’t going for that at all in developing the recipe, but they definitely have a similar taste to them. I think these have a leg up though – in the form of a crumbly oatmeal crust.

How do we make these Oatmeal Fig Bars?

These are made up of the most delicious oatmeal crust paired with a sticky sweet fig filling. The oatmeal crust comes together quickly and easily, and it also doubles as the crumble topping. It’s lightly sweetened with a little bit of coconut sugar and a touch of maple syrup. For the dry ingredients, we use a combo of almond flour, tapioca flour, old-fashioned oats, and baking soda to achieve the crispy texture that makes the crust so good.

The fresh fig filling is kept simple. To make it, we’ll lightly sweeten the chopped figs with maple syrup, and cook them down until thick and jammy. At the end of cooking, we’ll stir in vanilla extract and lemon zest and juice. They add SO much flavor and brightness to the bars.

I prefer these fig bars straight out of the fridge, when the fig filling is cold and thick with a little bit of bite to it. Though they’re also fabulous at room temperature, just a whole lot gooier.

These oatmeal fig bars are gluten-free, refined sugar free, and vegan, so I’ve got no shame in admitting they were a morning snack. ;) These are definitely a worthy way of using your much cherished fresh figs. They are delightfully crispy, with a hearty oat flavor, and a sticky fig center. You’re going to LOVE – enjoy!

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Oatmeal Fig Bars (Gluten Free + Vegan)

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★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

• Author: Rachel Conners
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars 1x

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Ingredients

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• 1 pound ripe figs, washed, stems removed and chopped
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, plus the zest of the lemon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the crust

• 1½ cups gluten free rolled oats
• ⅔ cup almond flour
• ⅓ cup tapioca flour
• ¼ cup coconut sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and grease with non-stick spray.
2. Start by making the fig jam filling. In a medium or large pot, combine figs and maple syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally until bubbling and thickened (15-20 minutes). Add 1-2 tablespoons of water if the mixture is sticking to the sides or burning at all. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Let cool while preparing the oatmeal crust.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together oats, almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar, baking soda and salt.
4. Add melted coconut oil and maple syrup to oat mixture and stir until combined.
5. Reserve 1/2 cup of the oatmeal crumble and press the remaining oat mixture into the prepared baking pan.
6. Next, carefully spread the crust with the fig mixture. Crumble the remaining oat mixture evenly over the fig mixture and gently pat it down.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into 16 equal squares. Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator.

• Category: Dessert