If you like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, you would love these peanut butter fig bars. Soft, chewy and bursting with flavours from childhood.
I’m going home to Manila you guys! It’s been almost 3 years since I saw my family so I am beyond excited.
I’ll meet my niece for the first time, I’ll get to hang out with my nephew who was a baby when I left, I’ll get to see the whole family (and we’re a very large extended family) at my grandma’s 85th birthday party (which is the reason I’m going home though don’t tell her…it’s a surprise!).
I heart my grandma
My grandma (Nanay) is literally the best person I know. She is kind and loving and generous.
She is mom to 10 boys (yes, 10 and yes, all boys!), grandma to 20+ grandkids, and great-grandma to a lot more (sorry, I’ve lost count).
And her heart is big enough to love each and every one of us completely and without reservations.
In 5th grade we were made to write an essay about who our hero was and I wrote an essay about her. I kid you not.
Peanut butter fig bars
She used to prepare these peanut butter sandwiches for us kids whenever we visit. Lily’s Peanut Butter was the brand I remember. Slathered on a hot pandesal.
So last weekend, instead of packing (which I tend to do last minute…drives Red insane), I decided to bake something peanut buttery.
I thought of Nanay and those peanut butter sandwiches and out came these soft and chewy peanut butter fig bars that filled me with so many happy memories!
Hope they make you happy too.
Peanut butter and jelly
I think peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a North American phenomenon. Filipino kids didn’t grow up eating it.
Sure we saw it on TV and in the movies but in real life, we had good old plain peanut butter sandwiches.
So when I moved here I thought I should really find out what the fuss is all about. I tried peanut butter with different kinds of jam but fig was the only one that I liked.
So for these bars, I used fig but if you have another favourite, feel free to use that. Just note how sweet or sour your chosen jam is and adjust the recipe accordingly.
Warm or chilled, always soft and chewy
These bars are soft and chewy out of the oven, and even the next day cold straight out of the fridge! They are great snacks, tea cakes, breakfast on the go.
No mixer required
They are so easy to make too. Stir and fold and bake. You don’t even need to bust out your mixer!
So go on. Bake some and bask in peanut butter goodness. I’m gonna go pack.
Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Fig Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- ¾ cup brown sugar (tightly packed)
- 1 pc large egg room temperature
- 1 pc egg yolk (from a large egg) room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- ½ cup fig jam
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9×9 inch baking pan and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk 1 ¼ cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir ½ cup melted butter and ¾ cup brown sugar until thick and smooth.
- And the eggs to your sugar mixture and stir until incorporated.
- Then add 1 teaspoon vanilla and ½ cup peanut butter and stir until smooth and well combined.
- Add your flour mixture in 3 stages and gently fold. Do not over mix or your bars will turn out tough and crumbly. Little specks of flour here and there are OK.
- Then gently fold in 1 cup salted peanuts.
- Then again the ½ cup fig jam. Again, try not to overwork the batter to ensure soft and chewy bars. The peanuts and the jam don't need to be fully incorporated in the batter.
- Transfer the batter to your prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until you see browning at the edges. Cool in the pan before cutting into squares.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy baking!
Did you make peanut butter fig bars? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear all about it. Do you have a favourite treat your grandma made you?
Lori Vachon
These look like a great after-school snack! They look really tasty!
Rosie Romance
These sound delicious! I’m a huge fan of peanut butter and adding figs makes them even more interesting. And happy birthday to your Grandma! Hope you have a wonderful time at home.
Jolina
Thanks a lot Rosie! That’s very sweet of you 🙂
Daisy Crawford
Mmmmm… pandesal! I haven’t had that in a while. I’ll have to try out these fig bars, but if you come up with a pandesal recipe let me know! (I’m half pinay ;))
Jolina
Pandesal hot off the brick oven!! I have not had that in years either. I’m not very good with bread yet but as soon as I become better I will make pandesal for sure 🙂 Thanks Daisy!
Elizabeth O.
The kids and I love peanut butter and we love making recipes that has it as an ingredient! I think this one’s going to be a hit! Thanks, I’m keeping the recipe!
Jolina
I agree, anything peanut butter is always a hit 🙂 Hope you and the kids like these!
Sandra Shaffer
I hear you about putting off packing! You definitely put your time to good use though. What a tasty looking snack. I’ll keep an eye out for some fig jam so I can give your recipe a try. Thanks!
Jolina
Right?? Haha! Thanks Sandra! Would love to hear how it goes.
Sarah
Can I substitute crunchy peanut butter!!?
Jolina
I think that would bring nice texture to the bars! 🙂
Michelle De La Cerda
Peanut butter cookies are my favs! Adding in some fig sounds interesting and delightful.
Jolina
Hi Michelle! Fig is certainly a unique addition. Hope you try it!
Marye
I would never have thought of using fig with peanut butter. 🙂 These look great.
Bella
I would never think to put figs and peanut butter together but it sounds great! I have got to give these a try.
Jolina
Weird that it’s the only combination that I like lol! Thanks Bella! Hope you like it!
Neely Moldovan
I love peanut butter bars and I love figs so I would try this for sure .Maybe I will make them this week!
Jolina
Nice! I do love this combination, hope you like them too Neely! Would love to hear how it goes.
Ana De- Jesus
I like the sound of this peanut butter and fig bar. It sounds like the perfect combination!
Jolina
Thanks Ana! The PB and fig do work surprisingly well together. Hope you try it sometime!
Liz Mays
Oh what an awesome way to use fig jam! I bet I’d like these bars a lot. It’s nice that they’re so nostalgic for you.
Jolina
Thanks Liz! We do have an abundance of fig jam (oh don’t ask lol) so this is great 🙂 Hope you like them!
Tania Potter
These look delicious, anything soft and chewy has got to be good. I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy every moment with your family.
Jolina
Thanks so much Tania! I am very very (very!) excited 🙂 (PS: and yes, soft and chewy = yumminess haha)
Dawn
Oh, wow, that is so exciting!! You must be beyond thrilled! Imagine how happy your family, especially your grandmother, will be to see you!! Hope you have a wonderful time (I’m sure you will 😉 )
I just love these bars! What a great twist with the fig jam and ya know what? I have a jar in my fridge right now so this is a perfect use for it! P.S. Awesome board – ‘let’s eat’. Have fun & safe travels, Jolina! Can’t wait to hear all about your trip when you get back 🙂
Jolina
Thanks so much Dawn! I am super excited! My grandma raised me so that’s absolutely going to be extra special 🙂 And yay on the fig jam! These bars are waiting to be baked I tell ya! Hope you like it 🙂
Emily
These look delicious! I have never made these before so it would be a fun new snack
Jolina
Thanks Emily! They are certainly protein packed snacks. Hope you like them!
Vivian
Ahhh your grandma sounds like a wonderful person! And you had me at peanut butter – love this recipe and the photos too btw. Have a great week!
Jolina
Awww thanks Vivian! She is the best 🙂 And yes to peanut butter! Have a great week as well 🙂