Tahini Fig Bars

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These no bake tahini fig bars are chewy, nutty (without any nuts) and loaded with powerhouse ingredients. Make a batch on the weekend and have a delicious, healthy snack all week long. Nut free and dairy-free.

Slices of tahini fig bars topped with chocolate, slices on a cutting board and surrounded by pumpkin seeds and dried figs.

I think I’m most successful with my health goals when I have food prepped and ready for the week. Even as a health coach, it can be difficult to resist temptations when I don’t have healthy options on hand. I tend to reach for easy, convenience foods that don’t make me feel as well. But lately I’ve been really good with my batch cooking on Sundays, which is my favorite way to meal prep. I prep a bunch of different items — like grilled chicken, a quinoa salad and some roasted veggies — so when it comes time to eat, I can throw together all the components and make a quick salad or bowl. Healthy eating is really that simple!

When it comes to snacks, I have become hooked on fresh veggies (like carrot chips, mini bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and celery) with dip (usually hummus or Bolthouse Farm’s cilantro avocado dressing). It’s amazing how satisfying crunchy veggies with dip can be. I typically chop some of the veggies in advance and place them front and center at eye level in the fridge so when I open it up, it’s the first thing I see and grab. This little trick works like a charm for healthy snacking.

Hand picking up a tahini fig bar topped with chocolate. Other slices are on the cutting board. Oats and pumpkin seeds are sprinkled around.

However, I’ll admit sometimes I’m craving something a little more substantial and errr… chocolatey. So recently I created these tahini fig bars, which are basically like the fruit and nut granola bars you’d find at the store, but homemade (no yucky additives!) and filled with fig tahini goodness. They are the perfect bar to prep on the weekend and have all week long. Plus, they’re no bake and can be whipped up in no time.

Tahini Fig Bar Ingredients

Let’s break down the key ingredients in the recipe:

  • Old fashioned rolled oats – Rolled oats are my oat of choice for these bars because they absorb a good amount of liquid and hold their shape during the mixing process. All oats are naturally gluten-free, but they are also one of the top foods that are contaminated in processing, so look for designated gluten-free oats if needed. I usually buy the Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free rolled oats.
  • Dried figs – You can find dried figs in most major grocery stores (even Target and Costco). If you can’t find them at your usual store, look for them at a natural foods store. Tip: they are typically found by the dried fruit. Figs are high in fiber and packed with powerhouse antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
  • Pepitas – Also known as pumpkin seeds, pepitas are a great source of healthy fats and protein. Again, these should be at most major grocery stores in the seed and nut aisle or in the bulk bins, but if you have trouble, head to your local health foods store!
  • Tahini – If you saw my tahini recipe post, you’ll know that I’m in love with tahini and I love making recipes with it – everything from this garlicky kale salad to these chocolate chip tahini cookies.  My favorite tahini is the organic Whole Foods brand, but I also regularly buy the Trader Joe’s brand tahini. You can also make homemade tahini! Tahini is rich, creamy and nutty while also being a great source of iron, calcium, fiber as well as healthy fats and amino acids. It also makes these bars nut-free so they’re school-friendly!
  • Honey – I love honey and think the flavor works wonderfully in these bars! Look for local, organic honey if you can. Did you know that eating local honey could help with seasonal allergies? Worth trying out!
  • Flaxseed – Flaxseed has a ton of health benefits — like healthy fats and fiber — which are both imperative to the standard American diet. Use ground flaxseeds (or grind them before using) to help make them easier to digest.
  • Chia seeds Chia seeds are another powerhouse seed! They have a ton of nutrients but not a lot of calories, which is what the health world calls “nutrient dense”. Chia seeds absorb liquid and gel up which helps hold these bars together!
Slices of tahini fig bars, topped with chocolate on a marble and wood cutting board. Oats, dried fruit, and pumpkin seeds are sprinkled around.

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4.70 from 55 votes

Tahini Fig Bars

These no bake tahini fig bars are chewy, nutty (without any nuts) and loaded with powerhouse ingredients. Make a batch on the weekend and have a delicious, healthy snack all week long. Nut and dairy-free.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Add oats, figs, pepitas, tahini, honey, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt in a large bowl.
  • Once the mixture is holding together, transfer into the loaf pan lined with parchment. Fold the parchment over top and press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan. Place in fridge for a few minutes while melting the chocolate.
  • Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until melted. Pour melted chocolate over the bars and spread using the back of a spoon.
  • Place the bars back in the fridge to harden (about 30 minutes). Remove from the pan and cut into 8 bars.
  • Store bars in fridge for up to 1 week. Enjoy cold or at room temperature (I’ve found that they hold together best when chilled and they taste delicious straight from the fridge).

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 48mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 16g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: tahini fig bars, tahini granola bars
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
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Recipe Rating




112 Comments

  1. Have you tried freezing this recipe? I’d love to have something like this to grab and go, but I wonder if the freezer would run the texture?

  2. 5 stars
    I was drooling over this so started making them only to find no figs. None! Enter medjool dates. They turned out quite delicious!

    1. Ohhh!! I love medjool dates and they’re a great sub for the figs. Dates and tahini are a match made in heaven. Enjoy your tahini date bars! 🙂

    2. So glad I read this comment, because I was just thinking “I have dates at home wonder if that will work?” Question answered! So excited to try these out!

  3. OH MY GOODNESS! Thank you for the clarification re pepitas, Brittany. Made them and they are delicious!
    Pulsed my figs in the food processor, because I had whole figs; then added all the rest and pulsed a few more times. Easy peasy!

  4. I love both tahini and figs…and I have all of these ingredients on hand now too! Cannot wait to try these!! 🙂

  5. I made this recipe this week. These are soo delicious and satisfying, and I didn’t even make the chocolate topping. I used dates instead of figs because that’s what I had. Thank you!!!

  6. This is one fantastic recipe! I made it with dates since that’s what I had on hand. The bars freeze well – I froze some for a later time. You are an amazing cook.

    1. Awww!! You are so sweet, Sabrina. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the bars with dates. Several people have mentioned using dates instead of figs — perfect swap. Quick favor to ask, would you mind leaving a star rating of the recipe? All you have to do is leave another comment and click the star rating to fill in how many stars you want to give the recipe. The stars really help with SEO. 🙂

  7. 5 stars
    Awesome flavor!

    I would never have thought to use tahini this way. I used dates because I didn’t have figs and also threw in some sunflower seeds to use them up.

  8. 5 stars
    Just made today for the weekend ahead. Took a “sneak test” on the spoon and man,this will not disappoint. Did not have figs on hand,used dates instead. THANK YOU for speaking to my taste buds in craving something salty and chocolatey:) This is it!

  9. 5 stars
    I love these ! Making on a regular basis to have at home or to share at work or with friends. Keep them in the freezer for quick gran snack. Sharing recipe with my sisters and nieces too. Huge hit !!!

    1. Hi Lynn! I am so happy to hear that you’ve been loving these Tahini Fig Bars! Thank you so much for coming back to leave a review (and star rating). Your feedback is so helpful to the EBF community and it means the world to me!

  10. 5 stars
    Had to come back and rate 5 stars! Make these often and have had many requests for your recipe. Have made with figs, when no figs, made with medjool dates. Fabulous both ways.

    1. Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that these bars are a hit! Thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, Linda. I really appreciate it! <3

  11. 5 stars
    Made this with apricots, figs and pineapple. Used Teff instead of chia.Used granola instead of oatmeal. Also added almond meal to hold it together better as I used a higher proportion of dried fruit, plus a little more coconut oil. I also ground up the pepitas into flour consistency.

    It was excellent, thanks for the inspiration. Was easy to make, I incorporated the chips into the mix rather than melt them, so this makes a really easy one bowl dessert for me.

    1. I’m so glad you made this recipe your own and that it turned out for you! 🙂 Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. It means the world to me!

  12. They turned out very scrumptious! I made this formula this week. These are soo flavorful and fulfilling, and I didn’t make the chocolate beating. I utilized dates rather than figs since that is the thing that I had. Btw Have you taken a stab at freezing this formula? I’d love to have something like this to snatch and go.

      1. 5 stars
        These freeze amazing well, in fact they taste better when they come out of the freezer. Also helps to eat less of them, out of sight, out of mind. This bar is amazing, best bar ever!

        1. Haha right?! That’s always my motto especially when it comes to snacks! So glad you’re loving these, Michelle. 🙂

  13. Is it possible to use 1/4 cup milk/water and 1/4 cup tahini paste? Maybe reduce honey/maple syrup to 1/8-1/4 cup? Because of the coronavirus pandemic I don’t have enough ingredients. Many thanks

    1. Do you have another nut butter that you could use to replace some of the tahini? I would just worry that using almond milk or water would make it too liquidy. And you can definitely use less honey/maple syrup if that’s all you have on hand.

  14. 5 stars
    Made these today with a couple of changes to accommodate self isolation. Used apricots instead of dates, added some sunflower seeds, and had to leave out the flaxseed. Still held together really well and is super delicious!

    1. Yay!! So glad these bars turned out for you, Carrie. Thanks so much for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, it means the world to me!

    1. Yay!! So glad you enjoyed these bars, Diane!! Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it. <3

  15. 5 stars
    I was so excited when I saw this recipe because I love using tahini in different ways! I followed the recipe exactly except for the pepitas & dried figs—didn’t have either on hand so instead I did a combo of sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, pistachios, dates & dried cranberries! Turned out amazing and it was sooo easy! I love eating halva, and this reminds me of it so much. It’s like eating halva with all your favorite granola ingredients in one bite 😍thank you for the recipe!

  16. 5 stars
    A friend introduced me to these a few months ago and just had my first try…delicious! Have passed on the recipe to my family.

    1. Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Alanna! I’m so glad you enjoyed these bars. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!

  17. 5 stars
    Since I found this recipes I am making them regularly and I love them. So good and since I have diabetes and am sweet toot, this are perfect. Thank you.

    1. So glad you’re loving these bars, Donna! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3

  18. 5 stars
    So delicious! I think tahini makes a great bonding agent for granola bars. After pouring the chocolate glaze I topped my bars with some toasted coconut I had left over from the Samoa energy bites I made at the same time. My fridge is now stocked with lots of goodies for the week 😋

    1. Ohh I bet the toasted coconut addition was so delicious! So glad you’re loving these bars, Emily. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!

    1. Yay! So glad these bars are a hit. Thanks for making them + for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I appreciate it!

  19. 5 stars
    I love these bars! Made a few of adjustemts by using Almond butter instead of tahini and majool dates instead of figs. They are absolutely delicious! Definitely will make them again!

    1. Yay!! So glad these bars turned out for you, Amber. Thanks for sharing what subs you made, it’s super helpful for other readers. 🙂

      1. 5 stars
        Thanks, love these bars, worked OK with out Chia, will try and sub next time because a little wet (likely because chia helps absorb some)!

        1. Hey Erin – Thanks for coming back to share. Yes, the chia seeds to help absorb some of the liquid. You can always replace it with more flax or oats if you don’t have chia seeds on hand.

  20. 5 stars
    These are awesome and totally caught me off guard! While I often make snacks for my son with nuts in them I love that these are nut free so when we can’t have nuts I know what to make! I will say mine turned out a bit “wet” so I might use less tahini next time. Thank you for your fabulous recipes!

    1. So glad this recipe was a hit, Carolyn! Some tahini can definitely be super liquidy so that could have been the reason for it being a bit wet. You could either use less tahini like you mentioned or add a few more oats in.

  21. 5 stars
    So easy to make… didn’t last long enough to try them after a week! Gobbled up so quickly. Will definitely be making these again 🙂

    1. Yay! So glad these bars were a hit, Sam. They never seem to last long around here either. I appreciate you coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. <3

  22. WOW! Made these last week. THEY ARE DELICIOUS!!! I too will try adding a little more oats, because mine were “wet”, but didn’t care. I am also going to make these into balls, using a hinged cookie scoop to stretch the recipe! THANK YOU SO MUCH! (and my husband even tried them and LOVED THEM!)

    1. Ahh yay, that makes me so happy to hear, Lisa. I’m so glad these bars were a hit! Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a comment – I appreciate it!

  23. 5 stars
    Amazing! I am starting my 8th week on a plant based eating lifestyle and recent convert to the love of tahini. Thank you for this yummy recipe! It will be our “dessert” this week. Your recipes are great and I sure appreciate the little video tutorials.

    Xoxo,
    Christy H.

    1. Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Christy! I’m so glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂

  24. 5 stars
    Oh my goodness- these bars are DELICIOUS!!! I don’t think I’ve made a batch that has lasted longer than a couple of days. The only thing I would recommend is doubling the amount of chocolate you melt for the topping (no need to double the coconut oil). YUM. Thank you so much for sharing!

    1. Ahh that makes me so happy to hear!! I’m so glad you’ve been loving this recipe. Thanks for the review, I so appreciate it!!

  25. 5 stars
    I love these! They are so simple to make and really delicious. I follow the recipe exactly. Thank you for sharing these!

    1. So glad you’re loving these bars, Jill!! Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂

    1. So glad you loved this recipe! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it, Tara.

  26. Very easy, quick recipe. Result is very tasty. My boyfriend does not love at all tahini, but he did not make any complaint, simply ate a big part of it at one go 🙂

    1. Ahh yay! That makes me so happy to hear, Adrienn. So glad these bars were a hit. Thanks for making them and for the review. I so appreciate it!

  27. 5 stars
    I didn’t have figs so I used medjol dates & they turned out Fabulous! Another tasty, healthy treat from EATING BIRD FOOD. Looking forward to try with figs.

    1. Woo! Pumped that you enjoyed you this recipe, Rosemary! Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it.

  28. These were really good but mine aren’t holding together – should I try freezing or should I have added more Tahini before drizzling the chocolate?

  29. Has anyone tried making these without the chocolate glaze? I’m trying to reverse osteoporosis by diet and so trying to limit as much sugar as possible but wondered if they’d be just as good without it?? Seems the figs would make them sweet enough??

    1. I have made these twice and have never used the chocolate glaze. Absolutely deliscious and plenty sweet without it.

  30. 5 stars
    I didn’t have any figs but couldn’t wait to make this recipe when I saw its so used dates instead – really delicious, loved the addition of tahini …. they were a bit crumbly, but they didn’t last that long so not a problem 😋👍

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed these tahini fig bars and so glad the date substitution worked. Thanks for the review, Angela! I really appreciate it!

    1. The coconut oil is just to help thin out the chocolate. You can skip this, your chocolate might just be a tad thicker!

  31. 4 stars
    These are delicious but mine are more crumbly than hard like a bar. Very rich- could only have half. Perfect snack for those sweet tooth cravings!!

    1. Oh no!! Did you use honey and place them in the freezer to harden up? They should definitely be more of a hard bar than crumbly. Either way, so glad you loved them!!

  32. 5 stars
    These are so easy and super yummy! I’ve literally made them three or four times in the past few weeks. I used quick oats and dried currants and added a spoon of cashew butter with the tahini. My kids loved them and actually only ate one serving because they are filling.

    1. Woo!! So happy to hear these tahini fig bars have been a hit, Jennie! Thanks so much for trying them out + the review. I really appreciate it!

  33. 5 stars
    I’ve made these twice, and am doing a third batch today. I cannot stop thinking about them, and look forward to feeling hungry so I can put another of these in my mouth!! Something about the umami-ness of the tahini and the chewy goodness of the figs. Thank you for this recipe!

    1. Aw yay!! I’m so thrilled you loved these tahini fig bars, Brandi! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate the feedback!

  34. These look great, I’d like to make them but without the honey, as we’re avoiding added sugars. Any suggestions on what I can replace the honey with? We have medjool dates which we typically use as a sweetener. Thanks!!

    1. The honey is going to help these bars stick together. If you make a paste out of dates that could work, but I haven’t tried it so not 100% sure how the bars would turn out! Let me know if you try it. 🙂

  35. 5 stars
    I made these today and they’re delicious! They seemed too wet to cut so I put them in the freezer for a little while. They hold together really well now. Thanks for the healthy snack!

  36. 5 stars
    Super great recipe!! Nice and quick, really good snack to keep you going throughout the day, I didn’t have any almond butter so substituted in peanut butter. Just as good!!

    1. Yay! So glad this recipe was a hit, Imsen! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I appreciate it so much!

  37. 5 stars
    Love these bars! I’ve been making these bars for awhile as I’m a big fan of tahini. I substitute dates for the figs as figs are harder to come by here. My kids love these and I’ll use them both as a snack or a fast breakfast if I don’t have time.

    1. Woo! Happy to hear that this recipe is a hit with your family! Thanks for sharing what swap you make and coming back to leave a review!

  38. 5 stars
    Delicious!! And no, obviously I did not eat the whole batch in one sitting while watching netflix, of course not🤭😂 i’d never do that

  39. 5 stars
    Had this recipe flagged for weeks, finally made it last night. So darn good – and filling, too! As I was eating it, I was thinking “how could I alter this recipe to use as stand-aline granola?” Thank you for the tasty goodness.

    1. Yay! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this recipe, Susan! Thanks for leaving a review!

  40. I just got this recipe and have all the ingredients ready to go! Question: it says at the top 10 servings but the instructions say to cut it into 8 pieces! Which is correct? And which does the nutritional info refer to? Thanks!!!

    1. Hi, Lena! The correct number is 8! I will update the post, thank you for catching that.

  41. 3 stars
    I also love tahini, but the flavour overpowers the figs. I was looking forward to a fig bar, but this kinda missed the mark if you are looking for a more dominant fig taste. They were yummy overall.

  42. 5 stars
    These are excellent! Your thumbprint cookies and these bars are my go-to for gluten free healthy baking. Thank you!

    1. YAY! I am so glad you are loving my recipes, Amy. Thank you for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!

    1. YUM! Such a great treat, Doreen. I am glad you are enjoying this recipe! Thank you for your review + star rating, it means so much to me!

  43. 5 stars
    This bars are so good! I love it! To tope with chocolat, at the end, I used dark chocolat unsweetened and it’s perfect.
    Thank you so much Brittany

    1. I’m so glad you loved these bars, Genevieve! Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!

  44. 5 stars
    I have been making them over and over they are so good and easy!! I use dates instead of figs and they turn out amazing. Thank you so much for sharing so many great recipes!

    1. YUM! I am so glad you are loving these bars, Laure. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!