Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (cold)
Fig Layer
- 1 cup dried figs, chopped
- Splash of water
- Squeeze of lemon juice
Cream Cheese Topping
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and salt. Blend in cold unsalted butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press this mixture evenly into a greased 20×30 cm baking pan to form the crust.
- Make Fig Layer: Clean and chop the dried figs into small pieces. Cook them in a saucepan with a splash of water for about 5 minutes until they soften. Blend the cooked figs with a squeeze of lemon juice until smooth, then spread this fig puree evenly over the prepared crust.
- Mix Cream Cheese Topping: In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and the egg until the mixture is creamy and well combined. Pour this cream cheese mixture evenly over the fig layer, smoothing it out carefully.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F). Bake the layered bars for 30 minutes or until the top turns lightly golden and the center jiggles slightly when the pan is gently shaken.
- Cool & Slice: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely. Then chill them in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to set before cutting into 12 squares and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is cold when mixing into the crust for a tender, crumbly texture.
- Chilling the bars thoroughly improves slicing and helps the layers set properly.
- You can substitute dried figs with other dried fruits like dates or apricots for variation.
- Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean slicing of the bars.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian