Friday, July 01, 2005

Fig and Cream Cheese Bars

Fig and Cream Cheese Bars(Adapted from CL)

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
2 cups dried figs, stems removed
1 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350

In a medium bowl, combine flours, brown sugar, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press mixture firmly into a 13" x 9" baking dish coated with cooking spray. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Combine figs, water, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook 5 minutes or until figs are tender and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly. Place fig mixture and lemon juice in a food processor; process until smooth. Carefully spread fig mixture over the firm crust.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Slowly beat in the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, vanilla, and egg. Pour over fig mixture; spread to edges. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.

5 comments:

  1. Wow, it looks good--great result ! like the fact it's made with a minimum of fuss -- plan to try this out! thanks for posting!

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  2. This looks delicious, Joe! I love figs, but I don't eat them that often. This looks like a good addition to the holiday treat table.

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  3. Thanks Lera! Let me know if you make them.

    Dawna - Thanks!

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  4. Hi Joe,
    Despite this being an older post, I've just found it and I just happen to have some St. Dalfour fig preserves that I'm going to try using in your recipe asap. Thanks for this post!!!

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  5. Five years later, I tried this recipe and enjoyed it. I posted about it and linked to your blog. Hope you don't mind!

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