Decadent Fig and Cream Cheese Bars Recipe
These Decadent Fig and Cream Cheese Bars feature a buttery crumble crust, a sweet and tangy fig compote layer, and a smooth cream cheese topping. Perfect as a sophisticated dessert or an indulgent snack, they combine rich textures and natural fruit sweetness for an unforgettable treat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 170 g all-purpose flour
- 80 g brown sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 90 g cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
For the Fig Layer:
- 400 g dried figs, stems removed and chopped
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
- 40 g granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For the Cream Cheese Topping:
- 170 g cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (preferably pure vanilla)
- 1 large egg
- 40 g granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Crumble Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This creates the crumble dough for the base, and using very cold butter helps achieve a tender texture.
- Assemble the Crumble Base: Grease or lightly oil a 20×30 cm baking pan. Transfer the crumble dough into the pan and press it evenly over the bottom with your hands, compacting the mixture slightly to form a solid, even base.
- Prepare the Fig Compote: Place the cleaned and chopped dried figs into a small saucepan, add 1 cup (250 ml) of water and 40 g granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the figs soften. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Then transfer the figs and cooking liquid to a blender, add 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, and blend until smooth to form the fig mixture.
- Spread the Fig Mixture: Evenly spread the smooth fig compote over the crumble base in the baking pan, covering the entire surface with the fig layer.
- Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with 40 g sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 large egg until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Using pure vanilla extract enhances the flavor significantly.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the fig layer in the pan. Bake the assembled bars at 180°C (350°F) for about 30-35 minutes or until the cream cheese layer is set and slightly golden on top. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Using very cold butter in the crust helps create a tender, flaky texture.
- If you prefer a sweeter fig layer, you can adjust the sugar quantity in the compote to taste.
- Pure vanilla extract provides a richer flavor compared to imitation vanilla.
- Let the bars cool completely before slicing to ensure clean cuts.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Keywords: fig bars, cream cheese dessert, baked dessert bars, fig compote, crumble crust, homemade fig bars, dessert bars with cream cheese
