My best friend of 23 years has always had a “mature” palate. Back in grade school, we would trade lunch items. Kristen likes healthy, balanced food and classmates were always happy to trade lunch items. Of course we also traded stickers (fuzzy stickers, anyone? Those were the bomb!), so I’m not quite sure what that says about us as a bunch…
Just last weekend I was talking to Kristen and she was describing a meal she recently made at home and swooned over: salmon, sweet potato, and spinach. Balance, color, omega 3’s…the whole kit and kaboodle. And of course she also described her breakfast which consisted of lox and bagels. Mmm!
But years ago, I would often trade her my dessert of Fig Newtons (or carrots…or pretzels…or pickles) for her Twix. Man, do I love Twix. And Kit Kats. As it ends up, Fig Newtons are pretty tasty, and when I ran across this recipe, I knew I wanted to make them.
I did change the crust proportion, however. I increased the crust measurements by 50% as I was unable to spread half the crust over the entire surface of an 8 x 8 baking dish. I kept the filling measurements the same. The end result closely resembles the taste of a Fig Newton with just a bit more crumbly of a texture.
What I like about these bars is that they would be a great pre or post-exercise snack. Athletes and runners in training, make note! Compact nutrition, with a plentiful amount of carbohydrate. I’m all about it.
Skinny Figgy Bars adapted from Fat Free Vegan as seen on In My Tummy
Filling:
8 oz dried figs
4 oz pitted dates
2 Tbsp almonds, silvered or chopped
1 Tbsp agave nectar (or other liquid sweetener)
2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ginger
Crust:
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats, ground in blender until fine
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 oz. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp agave nectar (or other liquid sweetener)
1/3 cup + 1 tsp water
Directions:
Snip off the fig stems, and put the figs, dates, and almonds into the food processor. Grind to a coarse paste. Stir in the remaining filling ingredients and process until mixed. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir in the wet ingredients, mixing well to a thick consistency. Press half the crust mixture into the bottom of an oiled, eight-inch square cake pan (use a wooden spoon or your hands). Spread the fig mixture evenly over the crust. Smooth the remaining crust mixture over the filling. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. Yield: 12 bars.
Nutrition Information (per bar): 211 calories; 2.8 g. fat; 0 mg. cholesterol; 288 mg. sodium; 47.9 g. carbohydrate; 6.4 g. fiber; 4.2 g. protein
Result: A homemade, dolled up Fig Newton! The crust has an oat flavor and texture while the fig portion is super sweet, sticky, and absolutely delicious! More than half of the carbohydrate content comes from the dried fruit — not the agave or oats, so the sweet factor is definitely there! And you’ve got to love a snack, breakfast, or dessert with plentiful amounts of fiber! A very versatile recipe and great for kids! Enjoy!
[/print_this]I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
I am going in at 3pm today for PRK vision correction (very similar to Lasik — even uses the same laser — but there is no flap made in to cornea…the laser goes right through the cornea). Ends up, I have old lady eyes with thin corneas and wasn’t a candidate for Lasik. PRK has good success rates and outcomes, however the recovery period is fairly extensive. I will be off work for a week, and out from behind the wheel for a week, as well. Vision can be blurred and distorted for upwards of a week, if not longer. Needless to say, I may not be around for awhile…or able to cook up anything much. I’ll just have to play it by year and hope that everything goes well! Though it could be a rather long, boring week off work and “Spring Break” from teaching…on house arrest without the ability to watch (see) TV or fiddle around on the computer. We shall see! 🙂 My vision is -7.5 so it can only go up from here! And let me tell you, it’s been one LONG week in glasses!
Question: What is your pre/post workout fuel?
TGIF,
These look AMAZING, Nicole! I have all the ingredients on hand, so guess what I’m making this weekend?!
Good luck with your vision correction, today!
Oh man I love twix… These look good too 😉
These bars sound outstanding. I used to eat Fig Newton’s all the time as a kid. They were one of my favorites.
Good luck with the surgery today! I didn’t know you were getting that done. Nick is looking into Lasik, for a couple years down the road. He’s nervous he won’t be a candidate either.
Why didn’t you post any pics of you in your glasses!!?? 🙂
How cool! Homemade fig newtons. And ahh, I remember the days of swapping lunchbox items.
Good luck with the PRK…I want to get either that or laser eventually!!
Yum! I usually don’t like fruit desserts but anything fig newton is a huge exception. I love how the recipe is already gluten-free, too.
Good luck with the PRK – my husband is saving up for lasik. I’m ok with my contacts and glasses.
I love Fig Newmans – especially as a pre or post run snack. Minus the almonds, these look great!
They look fantastic! My post workout fuel is pb.
Good luck with your surgery, I hope you have a speedy recovery! I love fig newtons, these look good!
Good luck with the eye correction!!
Those bars look amazing, I never liked Fig Newtons as a kid, I think ti was a texture thing.
Those bars look so good! I like peanut butter anything after a workout. 🙂
I used to HATE fig newtons when I was a kid….now I like them a lot! Those bars sound delicious. I LOVE anything with dates.
Good luck with your eye surgery – that is so exciting! I cannot wait until the day when I can get that….contacts are such a pain,right?!
I had a hard time with the crust too. I didn’t have enough to fully cover the tops.
Good luck with your eye surgery.
Good luck today! One day, I am going to have my vision corrected. Turns out I have a small cataract in my left eye, that eventually will need to be corrected, and I am told they can correct vision then too…we will “see” I guess. But I hope you have an uneventful recovery followed by great vision. My eyes are -8.5 and -8.0…so I totally feel for ya!
That cookie sounds marvelous! I made something similar for xmas this year…but I am sure it wasn’t quite as healthy. I was never a fan of fig newtons as a kid…but now, I don’t know why, because I love figs! 🙂
I had PRK done about 4 years ago because my cornias are too thin also – but I was OK with that because I didn’t like the idea of a FLAP on my EYEBALL! BUT… they scrub off the skin from your eyeball with a tooth-brush-like thingy and it’s the freakiest thing ever! I also had -8.5 eyes so it took at least 45 seconds per eye and I have a lazy eye so they had to keep stopping the lazer!! Needless to say it was the most uncomfortable proceedure I’ve ever had done.
BUT – it was also the best thing ever too. Being able to wake up and see the clock? Priceless. Yes – the recovery was long. And you have to wear goggles so water doesn’t get in your eyes. And at one point or another you may get some excruciating pain… but it’s very worth it 🙂 GOOD LUCK!
And PS … my eye are incredibly dry still at night (like sand paper rubbing against my eye balls). Apparently this is a common side effect, I just thought it’d be gone by now! I keep eye drops near me at all times.
GOOD LUCK on the procedure!!!!!! When you are able, let us know how you’re doing!!! Take care!!!
This looks so yummy. Perfect to replenish the tummy after a big ol run!
I feel everyone is making fig bars lately! Need to get on that, it seems. 😉
It looks delicious! I have to wonder if the agave in the filing is necessary, though… but maybe it’s just me and my sensitivity to the awesome sweetening power that is dates. 😛 (I can’t even eat them straight – that’s like eating a tablespoon of sugar straight to me haha.)
These look so good! I like that they’re filled with both figs and dates.
These do look really great, so much better than a twix bar!
I had a sticker book and remember trading too 🙂
I actually blogged about these bars a few months ago! I loved em!
I love that there is no added sugar in these bars. Win!