9.01.2014

Fig & Chocolate Oatmeal Bars


My father would have loved these! He was crazy for figs.....a Fig Newton lover from way back. I don't think I ever saw him eat a fresh fig, but he loved them cooked in bars and desserts, you know what I mean...gooey, sticky and sweet. As for me, I'm a convert...never cared for fresh figs much, but one day someone served me some with a dab of mascarpone on top and that sweet, honeyed flavor won me over. 
The chocolate addition is interesting, isn't it? Wouldn't have thought of it myself, but that's why I love all you creative bloggers!  Crazy about the splash of port in the filling. These are chewy and divine. I still have lots of fresh figs in my market, hope you do too.


Fig & Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

From :pastry studio


Ingredients:
16 - 18 fresh ripe figs
2 – 3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons sugar, to taste
good dash of Port

1 cup flour 
1 and 3/4 cup old fashioned oats 
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed 
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 oz (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Method:
Stem and chop the figs and place in a saucepan with the water and sugar. Cook until the figs are soft and juicy, stirring frequently so they don't burn. Add more water if necessary as the mixture cooks and taste to adjust sugar. Pull off the heat and cool completely.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease an 8” square pan and line with a piece of parchment paper large enough to form an overhang along two sides of the pan.

Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and both sugars in the bowl of a food processor. Process until ingredients are combined and the oats are chopped a bit but not ground completely. 

Cut the cold butter into small pieces and add to the dry ingredients along with the vanilla. Pulse until the mixture starts to clump. It might still look loose, but should hold together when pinched.

Press about 2/3 of the oatmeal mixture into the prepared pan to form the bottom layer. Distribute the chopped chocolate evenly across the surface. Pour the fig mixture over the chocolate and spread gently. Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture. Press the sliced almonds gently into the surface.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until slightly browned. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Gently lift out of the pan using the parchment overhang and cut into bars.


19 comments:

  1. Lovely bars and great combo!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am embarrassed that I still haven't found fig newton bars here - crazy right?
    Lovely looking bars, make I can make them instead :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love figs too and sometimed I have bought but we eat before to make something!!
    These look amazing Barbara!

    ReplyDelete
  4. They look amazing, Barbara. I first thought they were made with dried figs...and I love it even more with fresh one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This filling sounds delicious, Barbara. I don't think I have ever combined figs and chocolate and it's a flavor combo I want to try. I saw figs in last week's farmers' market. Hope they still have some.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love figs! I put a few chopped, dried figs in my smoothie with other fruit in the morning. I would love these bars!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Knight saw the title and wanted to know why you were ruining a wonderful Fig Newton with chocolate. Guess I won't bother making these for him...

    ReplyDelete
  8. these look great and love fresh figs hoping my wee fig tree will bear fruit

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Barbara,

    I am like you did not like figs growing up - we had a big old tree in our back yard. Now I actually enjoy them as a dessert.
    Happy September
    hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just remember you asked in my last post if that was me in the photo - it was actually my daughter. Thanks for visiting
    C

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely bars and figs are my favorite so I am going to try them once fig season hits the markets here.

    ReplyDelete
  12. These look chewy and wonderful. Love the chocolate and port idea.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  13. They look great. I love figs, fresh and dried. Must try!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Don't you love pastry affairs blog?
    She has the best recipes; I often go there for inspiration.
    These sound good, hey, anything with chocolate is good.
    And I always love your comments on my blog! xoxo!

    ReplyDelete
  15. you know, i don't think i've ever had figs paired with chocolate, but what a treat! i've come a long way from turning my nose up at things like fig newtons. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice bars...like the fresh figs and oatmeal...and yes, chocolate sounds great!
    Hope you are enjoying your week Barbara :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. I wouldn't have thought of putting fig and chocolate together either, but it looks like it works!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh wow - I love fig & chocolate together and these bars look irresistible! Thanks for sharing such a lovely recipe :)
    Cheers - Donalyn@ http://thecreeksidecook.com

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails