Three cut fig streusel bars on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Soft and Crumbly Fig Streusel Bars

Use either fresh or dried figs to make delicious fig streusel bars topped with a crumbly streusel for a dessert that kids and adults will enjoy.

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The only way a fig had ever been eaten in my house was in a Fig Newton. Then one day we found ourselves with a bucket full of fresh figs from a neighbors fig tree. Other than trying to make our own Fig Newtons, I had no clue what to do with these figs. But we weren’t going to let them go bad, either. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what exactly a fig tastes like to know what type of food to make with them. Fig Streusel Bars seemed to be a good option.

The boys tried them on their own and weren’t too keen on the figs. I think they didn’t like the texture of the fresh figs. But, I don’t blame them, I didn’t either. 

In our search for a recipe, we came across quite a few recipes that used them to make a snack bar. I thought about trying to make homemade Fig Newtons. But that sounded like way more work than I wanted at the time (I may still try it one day). 

We’ve now made these Fig Streusel Bars twice, once with fresh figs, the other with dried figs. We all preferred the fresh figs, but our local grocery store doesn’t keep them fresh. I actually ran into the store manager when I was there. He asked if I was finding everything ok and I told him no. I couldn’t find figs and he brought me to the aisle with dried fruit. I said I was hoping for fresh and he said they didn’t sell enough so he doesn’t stock them anymore. 

The Fig Streusel Bars are similar to my lemon bars. I made a crust in the same way. The filling is just quite different.

Step by Step

Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a square baking dish. Prepare all of your crust ingredients.

Stainless steel bowls with fig streusel bars crust ingredients of flour, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract all on a wooden surface

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, make the crust. Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer. Use the lowest speed on the mixer to beat in the flour until it makes a soft dough that may be slightly crumbly.

Stainless steel bowl with crumbled crust mixture next to a greased glass baking dish all on a wooden surface

Press the dough into the bottom of the greased pan. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the center is set.

Crust pressed into a glass baking dish on a wooden surface

Chop the figs into small pieces. You want them big enough to still have shape. But small enough that they are bite-sized even for the kids. 

Glass measuring cup with water next to stainless steel bowls of chopped dried figs and sugar all on a wooden surface

While the crust is baking, add the figs to a small saucepan. If you are using fresh figs, add the sugar but do not add the water. If the figs are dried, then you need to add one cup of water. Heat the figs over high heat for about 10-12 minutes making sure to stir frequently so they don’t stick to the pan. Heat until most of the liquid has absorbed. 

Medium sauce pot with cooked figs in sugar and water next to a glass baking dish with baked crust all on a wooden surface

Once the crust is set and cools for a few minutes, spread the fig mixture over the crust. 

Glass baking dish with baked crust topped with cooked figs next to a stainless steel bowl with mixed streusel topping all on a wooden surface

In a small bowl, use a pastry blender (or two butter knives) to cut the cold butter into the flour and brown sugar.

Stainless steel bowl of oats next to another stainless steel bowl of streusel with a pastry blender in the bowl all on a wooden surface

Then stir in the oats. 

Stainless steel bowl with mixed streusel topping on a wooden surface

Sprinkle the topping over the figs and bake for about 15-20 minutes. The edges should start to bubble and the topping will cook to a golden brown color. 

Glass baking dish with streusel topping on top of cooked figs and baked crust all on a wooden surface

Let the bars cool completely, usually about one hour, before cutting into bars. 

Three cut fig streusel bars on a wooden surface (vertical)

Recipe

Originally Published On: September 19, 2018

Last Updated On: January 3, 2020

Three cut fig streusel bars on a wooden surface

Fig Streusel Bars

Use either fresh or dried figs to make delicious fruit bars topped with a crumbly streusel for a dessert that kids and adults will enjoy.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 50 minutes
Course:
Snack
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
fig
|
streusel
Servings: 16 bars
5 from 6 votes

Ingredients

Crust
  • 8 tbsp butter (softened)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
Filling
  • 9 oz dried figs
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
Streusel
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp butter (cold)
  • 1/4 cup oats

Instructions

Crust
  • Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a square baking dish
  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, make the crust by beating the butter, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until it’s well blended
  • Use the lowest speed on the mixer to beat in the flour until it makes a soft dough that may be slightly crumbly
  • Press the dough into the bottom of the greased pan and bake for about 15 minutes, until the center is set
Filling
  • Chop the figs into small pieces
  • While the crust is baking, add the figs to a small saucepan with the sugar and water
  • Heat the figs over high heat for about 10-12 minutes making sure to stir frequently so they don’t stick to the pan until most of the liquid has absorbed
  • Once the crust is set and cools for a few minutes, spread the fig mixture over the crust
Streusel
  • In a small bowl, use a pastry blender (or two butter knives) to cut the cold butter into the flour and brown sugar then stir in the oats
  • Sprinkle the topping over the figs and bake for about 15-20 minutes
  • Let the bars cool completely, usually about one hour, before cutting into bars
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Nutrition Facts
Fig Streusel Bars
Amount Per Serving (1 bar)
Calories 187 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 73mg3%
Potassium 125mg4%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 245IU5%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 33mg3%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

24 thoughts on “Soft and Crumbly Fig Streusel Bars”

  1. 5 stars
    It has been a while since Fig. I don’t know if Fig is sold in Japan, it would be a rare item. But, this recipe looks super delicious! I might have to hunt fig down to try to make this!

    1. You may be able to find it dried easier than fresh. My grocery store here doesn’t even carry fresh figs anymore but I can always find them with the dried fruit.

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