FIG BARS (gluten free Plant-Based)
If you smashed Fig Newton's into your face as a kid like I did then these will be a welcome addition to your kitchen. First - they're QUICK as hell to make - and they're oil-free, refined sugar-free, gluten-free, and totally plant-based and yet 100% delicious.
Serves: 14 or so bars depending on how you cut them
INGREDIENTS:
Cookie Dough:
1 cup almond flour, finely ground
1 cup oat flour
1 tbsp flax meal
1 tbsp tapioca starch
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Fig Filling
6oz dried figs (stems removed if you don't want a nasty surprise)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch sea salt
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat your oven to 350 F - line a sheet with a silicon sheet if you got it - otherwise parchment.
Plop the dried figs into a bowl and cover those bad boys with boiling water so they can soften up - like 10-12 minutes. Drain and set 'em aside.
For the cookie dough: In a medium bowl, whisk almond flour, oat flour, flax meal, tapioca starch, and baking powder until that shit is totally combined. Add the maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla. Stir until everything is combined and a thick dough can be formed into a ball. Don't be scared to get in there with your hands. Divide the dough into two balls balls - use a kitchen scale if you've got one. (If the dough is too sticky, you can add a bit more oat flour to the dough.)
For the filling: Toss the drained figs, lemon juice, and vanilla into a food processor and pulse that beautiful fucking mixture till a thick paste forms - won't take long at all.
Build your Fucking Fig Rolls: Place one of the cookie balls onto a piece of wax or parchment paper and shape into a log - you know what a fucking log looks like, just eyeball that shit.
Lay the top sheet of wax or parchment paper over the cookie log and roll the dough into a 12 x 4 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Remove the top paper and use your hands to create an even rectangle - it doesn't have to be perfect. You got this.
Spread half of the fig paste down the centre of the dough. Lift up the wax paper and fold the top part up over the fig filling until the two dough edges close. Press it down gently - don't smash the fuck out of it or you'll end up with flat bars.
Slice into 1 to 1 1/2 inch cookies depending how big you want 'em. Place cookies onto a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden. This shit really depends on your oven so keep an eye out.
When they're done let 'em cool on a wire rack and then SMASH THEM INTO YOUR FACE!
TIPS:
Feel free to substitute part of the figs with an equal weight in another dried fruit. You could experiment with fresh fruit but I haven't tried that yet...
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