Gluten-Free Fig Bars – Healthy Snack

Full of delicious fig flavor, these healthy gluten-free fig bars are a perfect fall snack! They’re quick and easy to make and will be a favorite treat in your house.

Healthy snacks have always been a little bit of a struggle in our house. Sometimes it seems like the only snacks around are fresh fruit and nuts, and, while there’s nothing wrong with that, we often want something more.

If we’re not careful, it’s easy to buy processed snacks instead of making delicious snacks myself. While there are some healthier store-bought snack options, homemade is always the healthiest and best-tasting! You never have to worry about seed oils, artificial colors, or any other unhealthy ingredients when you make it yourself.

That’s why I love easy snacks like these gluten-free fig bars! They’re full of healthy and tasty ingredients and just perfect eaten with a big glass of fresh milk. When you have recipes like this, you don’t have to compromise health one bit to have delicious snacks for your family!

Why You’ll Love Gluten-Free Fig Bars

Quick & easy snack – They only take about 15 minutes to get in the oven!

Healthy ingredients – Made with plenty of fruit, whole grains, and healthy fats, you can feel great about serving this to your family.

Allergen-friendly – These fig bars don’t have gluten, eggs, or dairy, so almost everyone can enjoy them.

Simple recipe – No complicated ingredients or steps here!

Healthy Snack Option

Gluten-free fig bars are full of real ingredients that are nourishing and beneficial to your health!

Figs are a wonderful healthy fruit to include in your diet. While they are fairly high in sugar, their high-fiber content makes them lower on the glycemic index so they won’t cause dramatic blood sugar spikes. The fiber content can help certain digestive issues and even promote heart health! Figs are also high in various nutrients such as vitamin K and copper. They are even supposed to combat cancer!

The crust and topping of these bars is made with a delicious mixture including oats, almond flour, and coconut oil. All of these ingredients have their own amazing health benefits and are a wonderful way to nourish your body. For additional nutritional benefit, I like to use sprouted oats instead of regular oats in these bars.

How to Store Leftovers

You can store gluten-free fig bars in the fridge for up to 5 days, if they’ll last that long without being eaten. Our family of three has devoured about 2/3 of the pan in the past 24 hours!

The bars are best served cold right out of the fridge.

FAQs

Can I freeze these bars? – I don’t recommend freezing gluten-free fig bars since that will make the crust and topping soggy.

Do I have to use fresh figs? – Dried figs will not work in this recipe. However, if you don’t have any fresh figs, you can substitute fig jam for the filling.

Can I use other types of fruit? – While directly substituting other types of fruit won’t work, you can use jam or jelly as the filling instead of the fig puree mixture.

Do I have to use coconut sugar? – No, you can use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar, however, the bars won’t be as healthy.

Tools You May Need

Mixing bowls

Measuring cups and spoons

Silicone spatula

9″ x 13″ glass baking dish

Food processor or high-speed blender

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Fig Bars

Fresh figs – Fresh figs are delicate and spoil quickly. They won’t continue to ripen properly once they’re picked, so it’s best to buy them ripe and use them within a few days. If you pick them yourself, you should have a little over a week to use them if they’re stored in the fridge.

Rolled oats – Not quick oats. For additional health benefits, I prefer to use sprouted oats. If these fig bars need to be gluten free, make sure to use gluten-free oats.

Coconut sugar – I think this is one of the best granulated sugar substitutes! If necessary, you can substitute brown sugar instead, but it will significantly impact the nutritional value of the bars.

Maple syrup – Provides a little more sweetness and flavor and gives the topping a wonderful texture.

Oat flour – Homemade or store bought. If this recipe needs to be gluten free, use gluten-free oat flour.

Almond flour – For the best texture, make sure to use blanched almond flour, not almond meal. 

Coconut oil – Softened. If you don’t need the fig bars to be dairy free, you can substitute softened unsalted butter.

Vanilla extract

Lemon juice – Fresh is always best, but you can use bottled lemon juice if necessary.

Spices – For the best flavor and health benefits, use quality spices without additives.

Salt – Sea salt or Himalayan.

How to Make Gluten-Free Fig Bars

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and greasing a 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish. I like to use coconut oil to grease the dish, but you can use whatever oil you prefer.

Place the figs, lemon juice, vanilla, and spices in a food processor or high speed blender and process until it turns to puree. Then set the mixture aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, coconut sugar, maple syrup, oat flour, almond flour, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt.

Take half of the mixture and press it down firmly into a very thin layer on the bottom of the baking dish. 

Now spread the fig puree on top. 

Finally, sprinkle the rest of the oat mixture on top of the fig puree.

Place in your preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is just beginning to turn golden brown.

Remove it from the oven and let the gluten-free fig bars cool. Once they have cooled, place them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before cutting into individual bars.

Enjoy as a delicious snack!

If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! Tag me on Instagram @violet_rightathome

More Healthy Snack Recipes

Gluten-free Cranberry Crisp Bars

Coconut Date Balls

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Banana & Date Oatmeal Cookies

Gluten-Free Blackberry Banana Breakfast Muffins with Oats