Figs Bars

Sweet and slightly zesty!

Recipe:
serving size: about 12
Ingredients:
1 lemon (including the zest)
1/4 cup maple syrup 
2 cup dried turkish figs (soaked overnight)
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup oat milk 
1/4 tsp himalayan salt
1/3 cup nut butter
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. In the meantime, strain soaked overnight figs (save the fig juice for the buckwheat granola recipe). Then place figs in blender along with the maple syrup and half of the lemon juice. Blend until smooth. If too thin add some of the fig juice little at a time. Set aside.
3. Next, combine the remaining lemon juice, nut butter, vanilla extract, and oat milk in a bowl. In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and lemon zest.
4. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry until dough is formed. 
5. Line a baking sheet in a pyrex container 9x9x2-inch. Press half the dough into a thin layer and top it off with the fig filling.
6. Use the remaining dough to press out the same way as the first, and then place on top of the fig filling gently.
7. Bake for 25 minutes and allow to cool before storage or enjoyment!

Tips:

• Any pyrex container will work, although the serving size will vary. I use a much bigger container that yields 20 thin bars.
• It's easier to press the dough in the pyrex container shape by removing the baking sheet with the first half pressed down aside, and then taking the now empty baking sheet to press the other half. This way both layers are easily shaped and ready to go!

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