Fig and Cream Cheese Bars

With the honeyed flavor of dried figs, a sweet cream cheese layer, and a buttery, crumbly crust, these bars garnered our Test Kitchens' highest rating. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Yield: 30 servings (serving size: 1 bar)

Ingredients

• 1 1/3  cups  all-purpose flour (about 6 ounces)
• 3/4  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 6  tablespoons  chilled butter, cut into small pieces
• Cooking spray
• 2  cups  dried figs, stems removed
• 1  cup  water
• 1/2  cup  granulated sugar, divided
• 3  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice
• 3/4  cup  (6 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  large egg
• 2  teaspoons  powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press mixture firmly into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

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 juice in a blender; process until smooth. Gently spread fig mixture over prepared crust.

Place remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cheese, vanilla, and egg in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. 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; sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

125 (28% from fat)

Fat:

3.9g (sat 2.1g,mono 1.4g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

1.8g

Carbohydrate:

21.7g

Fiber:

1.5g

Cholesterol:

17mg

Iron:

0.7mg

Sodium:

84mg

Calcium:

33mg