Are you a fig newton fan? Do you even know what those are? They taste straight up artificial. If you’re a lover of fig newtons or not, you’ll love these vegan cookie bars stuffed with an ooey gooey homemade fig filling are the upscale, non-artificial version of the refined sugar-filled grocery store fig newton cookies. The cookie bar is incredibly soft and chewy. The fig filling is fresh, sweet, and delicious. It’s a delightful combination you must try!

Considering how the fig filling turned out once mixed, I was nervous the cookie layer would be spongy after baking. It was not, at all! The middle fig layer blended beautifully in between the two vanilla cookie layers, creating a tasty, sweet filling.

It’s not often that you spot fresh figs in the grocery store. They are in season now, so keep your eyes open to these little pieces of nature’s candy.

 

Fig Stuffed Vanilla Cookie Bars

 

This recipe is free of soy, dairy, eggs, peanuts, refined sugars, refined oils, and artificial flavors.

Makes 16 servings

Nutritional info for 1 serving (1 bar): 216 calories, 4.8g protein, 30.5g carbs, 9.1g fat, 18.2g sugar, 4.8g fiber

 

Ingredients

Vanilla Cookie

• ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tablespoons egg substitute of choice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups almond meal flour
• 1¼ cups sprouted spelt flour
• ¾ cup coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Fig Filling

• 1¼ cups fresh figs, washed and tops cut off (about 10-12 figs)
• 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8” pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together applesauce, almond milk, egg substitute, and vanilla extract until smooth.
3. In a separate large mixing bowl, sift together almond meal flour, spelt flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, and salt.
4. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir until well combined.
5. Blend together fig filling ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
6. Pour half of the vanilla cookie bar batter into baking pan. Smooth down.
7. Spread all of the fig mixture in the baking pan, on top of vanilla cookie batter layer.
8. Pour the remainder of cookie bar batter in the baking pan, on top of fig mixture. Spread down.
9. Bake in the oven for 34-38 minutes, or until center is cooked throughout.