Whole Wheat Fig Bars

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Snacking has entered its main character era! Whether it’s a low-effort “girl dinner,” a thoughtfully packed snack lineup for the work week, or something easy to grab on your way to the pool. These Whole Grain Fig Bars fit right into that rhythm of the warmer months. They taste slightly sweet and are filling without being over the top.

These bars have a thin layer of sweet fig preserves sandwiched between two layers of whole wheat cinnamon vanilla dough that bakes up soft. The flavor is light and not overly sugary, making them perfect for those moments when you want something sweet but still feel good about it.

Bake and slice ahead of time so you’re ready to take on the go. They hold up well and travel easily, which makes them perfect for summer snacking – from pool days to work breaks to casual nights when snacks are the dinner. This easy fig snack bar recipe will fit perfectly into your daily routine.

Why You’ll Love These Whole Wheat Fig Bars

• They travel well! No one likes biting into a bar and having it crumble all over your lap. The good news is that these whole-grain fig bars are sturdy and transport well with minimal crumbling.
• They’re a filling snack option! We intentionally used whole-grain flour in this recipe so that the bars would be more filling. Whole-grain flour is less processed, which means it retains more fiber and nutrients, which makes it more filling. It’s an easy way to make these snack bars more filling and a little more nutrient-dense.
• They work with any type of preserve. The whole wheat cinnamon vanilla dough will complement any type of jam or preserve of your choice. So if fig is “not your jam”- no pun intended- swap with your favorite fruit preserve.

How to Make Whole Wheat Fig Bars, Step by Step

Step 1: Preheat oven and line and grease a 9×9-inch baking pan. 

Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF and greasing and lining a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper. That way, your oven and baking dish are prepped and ready to go.

Step 2. Make whole wheat cinnamon vanilla dough.

This whole wheat vanilla dough is super easy to make and requires a handful of ingredients.

Start by whisking together your dry ingredients – whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt- in a medium bowl. Set the flour mixture to the side to add in after you’ve creamed the butter, sugar, and eggs.

Using a handheld or stand electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until it reaches a soft, whipped texture. Whisk in the egg and vanilla extract before you blend in the flour mixture. The end result should be a soft cinnamon dough.

Step 3. Chill and roll dough to form the bottom crust. Bake until golden brown.

This dough will be soft, so we recommend chilling the dough for about 10 minutes to give the dough some time to harden, making it easier to roll and mold into the pan.  Chilling the dough will give the dough some time for the flavors to develop. 

After the dough has chilled, use a rolling pin to roll 2/3 of the dough out into a thin a rectanle the is about 9×9 inches wide. Transfer the dough to the bottom of the pan and gently press the dough to evenly cover the bottom of the pan. 

Bake the bottom layer for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Just enough to get it golden brown on the top.

Step 4. Spread fig filling on the bottom crust and add the top crust.

Once the bottom layer is out of the oven, spread an even layer of fig jam over the top of the crust. 

Roll out the final 1/3 of your dough into a square that is about 1/4 inch thick, or until you’ve rolled out a sheet large enough to cover the top of the jam. You should have just enough to place over the top of the jam. 

Tip: Keep the dough in the freezer to chill before rolling it out. The dough is soft, and chilling will make it less sticky and easier to mold.

Step 5. Bake, cool completely, and slice.

Pop the bars back in the oven for the final bake – about 20 minutes. Once they are golden brown and cooked through, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before slicing. 

Use the parchment sling to remove the bars from the baking pan and slice them into 16 bars. 

Tip: We recommend letting them set for about 1 hour to completely set.

Tips for making Homemade Fig Bars

• Butter and line the pan for easy removal. This may seem excessive, but trust us! This is our fool-proof way to cleanly remove any type of baked bar from the baking dish. See step-by-step instructions in the Recipe FAQ.
• Add cinnamon for a warm flavor. Adding cinnamon to the vanilla dough is an easy way to add warmth to these bars. And when it bakes, it smells and tastes so comforting!
• Fill with jam of your choice. The great thing about these bars is that they are so versatile. If you want ot play around with other flavors, you can fill the bars with any preserve or jam of your choice.

How to Store Fig Snack Bars

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.

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