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Decadent Fig and Cream Cheese Bars Recipe

Decadent Fig and Cream Cheese Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 5 reviews

These Decadent Fig and Cream Cheese Bars combine a buttery crumble base with a sweet fig compote and a luscious cream cheese topping. Perfect as a delightful dessert or a special treat for tea time, these bars offer a balanced mix of sweetness and texture with the rich flavors of dried figs and creamy cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crumble Base

  • 170 g all-purpose flour
  • 80 g brown sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 90 g cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

For the Fig Compote

  • 400 g dried figs, stems removed and chopped
  • 1 cup (250 ml) water
  • 40 g granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

For the Cream Cheese Layer

  • 170 g cream cheese, softened
  • 40 g granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg

Other

  • Oil for greasing the baking pan

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Crumble Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine 170 g all-purpose flour, 80 g brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and 90 g cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This creates the crumble dough base, and using very cold butter helps achieve the perfect texture.
  2. Assemble the Crumble Base: Grease or lightly oil a 20×30 cm baking pan. Press the crumble dough evenly into the bottom of the pan using your hands, compacting it to form a solid base layer for the bars.
  3. Prepare the Fig Compote: Clean the dried figs by removing stems and chopping them smaller. In a small saucepan, add the figs, 1 cup (250 ml) water, and 40 g sugar (adjust if needed). Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until figs soften. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Blend the figs along with the cooking liquid and 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until smooth, creating the fig compote.
  4. Spread the Fig Mixture: Pour the blended fig compote evenly over the prepared crumble base in the baking pan, covering the entire surface smoothly.
  5. Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a bowl, beat 170 g softened cream cheese with 40 g granulated sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 large egg until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This will be the rich topping for the bars.
  6. Assemble and Bake: Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the fig layer in the pan. Use a spatula to gently spread it out. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 30 minutes or until the top is set and lightly golden. Let the bars cool completely before slicing into serving pieces.

Notes

  • Use very cold unsalted butter for the crumble dough to achieve a flaky texture.
  • Adjust the sugar in the fig compote depending on the sweetness of your dried figs.
  • Real vanilla extract enhances the flavor much better than imitation vanilla.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely to ensure clean slices and the best texture.
  • Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator; consume within 3-4 days for freshness.

Nutrition

Keywords: Fig bars, Cream cheese bars, Dessert bars, Fig compote, Crumble base, Baked dessert

Find it online: https://thehungrymason.com/decadent-fig-and-cream-cheese-bars-recipe/