Fig and Cream Cheese Bars

By Texaschef11

Ingredients

• 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

Preparation

Step 1

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.