Fig Jam Bars
You already know that our Cookie recipe makes great, easily portable cookie bars with berries, peaches, and other fresh fruits. Figs are also a great fresh fruit option and their deliciousness factor skyrockets when you spend a bit of extra time making homemade jam for your cookies. The result? A not-too-sweet snackable bar that is frighteningly similar to a store-bought cookie you grew up with.
That store-bought cookie was named after the town of Newton, Massachusetts (near to where they were produced.) The idea for these cookies came straight out of our headquarters here in Boulder, Colorado...but we're just calling them Fig Jam Bars. (And you can call them whatever you like!)
Don't let the homemade jam step intimidate you! In fact, you can read more about how to make your own homemade jam here. Get cooking! And enjoy!
Fig Jam Bars
6 fresh figs; washed, dried, and quartered
zest of 1 lemon (about a tablespoon)
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon salt (I like kosher salt here)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 batch of Skratch Labs Cookie batter
In a medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan bring the figs, brown sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla to a boil, stirring as needed.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 40-50 minutes, occasionally smashing the larger pieces with the back of a fork and stirring. They will cook down and thicken with jam-like consistency.
Remove from the heat and cool completely. This fig filling can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
When you're ready to bake the bars, preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Prepare the cookie mix according to the directions. Then, firmly press half of the cookie mix evenly into the prepared pan, making sure that the entire bottom of the pan is covered. (Use more cookie mix if you need to in order to be sure there aren't any bald pan spots!)
Next, using a spatula, spread the fig jam evenly over the bottom layer of cookie mix. Lastly, evenly sprinkle the remaining cookie dough over top of the jam, pressing lightly down to make a solid bar.
Bake the bars until golden (20-25 minutes,) then allow to cool in the pan before cutting, serving, wrapping or enjoying!
