OMG Figgy Bars

Okay, so this is a record, posting twice in the same day...but let's just say I am catching up from being so poky in my posting efforts. This recipe is another GF recipe and for all of you Gluten Free lovers this is a serious to die for desert! Tweaked it from another recipe for our dear "Fairmaiden" awhile back and it is safe to say that this one receives RAVE reviews. Even better, they have a wonderful shelf life, of course that is, if you don’t inhale /consume them rapidly. They do not have to be refrigerated, but they do require “sitting and settling” for a few hours before you can dig/slice in.

OMG Figgy Bars (serves approximately 16 generous slices)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Tools - one 9 inch pie pan (I used my Emile Henry ceramic pie dish)
Parchment paper

Fruit topping
• ½ cup of figs (can use dried Mission/Black or Calimyrna)
• ½ cup of craisins
• 1/3 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/3 cup fresh orange juice (I used Knudsen’s orange/carrot)
• ½ of a vanilla bean - sliced open to expose the seeds
• 2 star anise pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 - 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger
**Or - ½ packet of Prince of Peace honey ginger crystals

Combine the figs/craisins and the remaining ingredients in a small saucepan.Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce and simmer gently, approx 20 minutes. Remove large chunks of spices. Place in a small food processor and coarsely mash the fruit into a thick paste. Set aside to cool.

Bar crust
• ¼ cup of almond meal
• ¼ cup of cashew meal
• ½ cup of flaked unsweetened coconut
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• 1 cup of GF flour
• ¾ cup rolled GF extra thick oats
• ¾ cup coconut palm sugar
• 1 teaspoon (or more) of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 12 tablespoons of coconut oil (freeze slightly and cut into chunks)

Combine the first eight ingredients and mix together well on low speed. Add in the butter chunks turn up to medium speed until the mixture pulls together into coarse crumbs (takes approx 3 - 5 minutes).

Set aside 1 cup of the coarse crumbs for the topping. Firmly press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of a glass 8 inch square baking pan, lined with parchment paper. Scatter the reserved 1 cup topping over the fruit, press down lightly. IF desired, sprinkle a wee bit of sea salt to get a sweet / salty hit (LOVE! sweet and salt).

Bake in the middle of the oven until lightly browned, 30 - 35 minutes (might take longer, based on altitude and modified ingreds and they do look gooey/runny while baking). Remove from the oven and cool completely. Slice into bars and store. These hold up well in terms of freshness.

Bon Appetit!