Description
These Decadent Fig and Cream Cheese Bars combine a buttery crumble crust with a sweet fig compote and a smooth, creamy cheese topping, creating a perfect balance of textures and flavors for a delightful dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 170 g all-purpose flour
- 80 g brown sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 90 g cold unsalted butter
For the Fig Layer:
- 400 g dried figs
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
- 40 g granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For the Cream Cheese Topping:
- 170 g cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 40 g sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Crumble Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine 170 g of all-purpose flour, 80 g brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and 90 g of cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This forms the crumble dough for the base. Using cold butter helps create a lovely texture.
- Assemble the Crumble Base: Grease or line a 20×30 cm baking pan lightly with oil. Pour the crumble dough into the pan and press it evenly over the bottom using your hands, compacting the mixture slightly to form a solid base.
- Prepare the Fig Compote: Remove stems from the dried figs and cut them into smaller pieces. Place the figs in a small saucepan with 1 cup (250 ml) water and 40 g granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Transfer the figs and cooking liquid to a blender, add 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and blend until smooth.
- Spread the Fig Mixture: Evenly spread the blended fig mixture over the crumble base in the baking pan, making sure to cover the entire surface.
- Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a bowl, beat 170 g softened cream cheese with 40 g sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 large egg until smooth and creamy. This mixture will form the creamy topping for your bars.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the fig layer in the pan. Use a spatula to spread gently. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 30 minutes, or until the top is set and lightly golden. Allow to cool completely before slicing into bars.
Notes
- Use very cold butter for the crumble to achieve a better texture.
- For best flavor, use real vanilla extract instead of imitation.
- The size of the baking pan is important for the thickness and baking time; a 20×30 cm pan is recommended.
- Dried figs can be adjusted to taste if a sweeter or less sweet fig layer is preferred.
- Allow bars to cool completely to ensure they set properly before slicing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (assuming 12 bars from recipe)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: fig bars, cream cheese bars, fruit dessert, baked bars, fig dessert, crumb crust, easy dessert
