Tahini Fig Bars
114
Published Oct 05, 2018, Updated Oct 23, 2023
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
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.
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.
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!
More Bar Recipes to Try
- Chocolate Chip Almond Granola Bars
- Apple Granola Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Cranberry Coconut Granola Bars
- Cereal Bars
- Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Fruit and Nut Bars
- Nut Free Granola Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Easy Protein Bars
- No Bake High Fiber Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Be sure to check out my full collection of snack recipes here on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Tahini Fig Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup chopped dried figs, black mission or smyrna work great
- 1/2 cup raw or toasted pepitas, also referred to as pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, dairy-free, if desired
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!
Happy to hear you enjoyed them, Lauren! Thanks for the review :).
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!!
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. 🙂
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!
Aw yay!! I’m so thrilled you loved these tahini fig bars, Brandi! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate the feedback!
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.
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!
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!!
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!!
I want to try these, but can’t use coconut oil. Any suggestions?
The coconut oil is just to help thin out the chocolate. You can skip this, your chocolate might just be a tad thicker!
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 😋👍
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!
Delicious!!
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??
You can totally skip the chocolate on top!
I have made these twice and have never used the chocolate glaze. Absolutely deliscious and plenty sweet without it.
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?
Oh no! Sorry to hear that. Did you use honey? And did your tahini seem dry at all?