Coconut Fig Squares
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These coconut fig squares won’t last long on the counter! Coconut and fig join forces as an irresistible flavor duo: the coconut offers a slightly sweet and tropical flavor with a chewy bite, and the homemade fig jam adds a unique sweetness with a jammy, honey-like flavor, all wrapped up in a hearty, crumbly oat base.
Everything is better with figs – they’re not quite an everyday fruit, so enjoying them always feels special! They have a natural honey-like sweetness, and turning them into jam is a great way to let that flavor profile shine – that brings us to these delicious coconut fig squares. They taste quite similar to date squares, only made with fresh green figs instead. The shredded coconut adds a subtly sweet flavor and chewy texture, and then it’s all wrapped up in a delicious oat crumb! These make a great snack, dessert with vanilla coconut ice cream!, or a treat with your cup of tea.
Ingredients needed
These coconut fig squares are a hit with kids and adults! Gather these simple ingredients:
- The fig jam: Green figs, brown sugar, and lemon juice come together to make a sweet and slightly tart filling.
- All-purpose flour: Acts as a structural base.
- Rolled oats: Adds a hearty texture. Quick oats will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
- Shredded coconut: Adds the distinct coconut flavor and a delightful texture.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens things up. You can use coconut sugar to make these refined sugar-free.
- Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent for a lighter texture.
- Sea salt: Enhances and balances the other flavors.
- Coconut oil: For a moist texture and coconut flavor.
How to prepare your fig jam
Preparing the homemade fig jam is a breeze, simply add the ingredients to a pot, bring it to a boil, then let it simmer before mashing it with a potato masher. Here are some tips as you prep your figs for your jam:
- Keep the skins on! Just remove the stems; the skins will soften during cooking so they seamlessly blend into the jam.
- We opt for ripe green figs for this recipe, but you could use black figs if that’s what you have. As long as they’re fresh figs (not sulfured) they’ll work in this recipe. As the black ones tend to be a little sweeter, you may want to cut down on the sugar.
- The fig jam is so lush that you’ll be grateful if you make extra and store it in jars! It makes an adorable gift, or use it to elevate your next charcuterie boards next to some brie or parmesan cheese. Or amp up sandwiches, swirl into yogurt, or drizzle over pancakes or waffles.
- For some extra flavor, make this bourbon fig jam with vanilla.
Coconut Fig Squares Recipe
Ingredients
The Fig Jam
- 1 ½ lb very ripe green figs (about 9)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
The Squares
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (gluten-free, if needed)
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¾ cup coconut oil (melted)
Instructions
- Cut the stem off the figs and quarter them. Add them to a medium-sized pot over high heat. Add the brown sugar and lemon juice and bring the pot to a boil. Be careful as it will splatter. Reduce the heat to medium and let the jam simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally and mashing the figs with your spoon as they soften. Let the jam simmer for 5 minutes more without stirring. Spoon off the liquid that comes to the top of the jam. Use a potato masher to mash the jam until it is somewhat smooth.1 ½ lb very ripe green figs, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- While the jam is cooking, prepare the rest of the fig squares. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting the excess drape over the sides.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, rolled oats, coconut, sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Add the coconut oil and mix again. I find using my hands the easiest way once the coconut oil is added. Press ⅔ of the oat crumb mixture into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups rolled oats, ½ cup shredded coconut, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ¾ cup coconut oil
- Pour the fig jam over the baked crust in the pan then top with half of the remaining oat crumb and pat down gently. Sprinkle the remaining oat crumb over top.
- Bake the fig squares in the oven for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the top is light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before removing from the pan and cutting into 12-16 squares, depending on how big you want the squares.
Nutrition
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Hi I made this recipe as I had a lot of ripe figs. It turned out great. I made a couple of changes. I used softened butter instead of coconut oil I used a lot of figs which I cooked longer and made into a preserve. I also used a larger baking dish.
So happy to hear it turned out!
Hi, I tried this recipe and It did not turn out the way I hoped. I substituted melted butter instead of vegetable oil and the result was the bottom crust was dry and fell apart when cutting into the bars. Also, 9 figs were not enough. I had 10 dried figs that I softened into a jam and I ended up adding the equivalent of a bag of frozen blueberries softened into a jam so that it would spread over my 8×8 pan.
I’m sorry to hear that the recipe didn’t turn out as you had hoped.
I absolutely loved these fig squares! They were so delicious and my coworkers ate them within minutes. I ran out of coconut oil, so I used half coconut oil and half avocado oil. They still tasted amazing. My fig mixture did not produce water, so I just added the mixture on top of the cooked crust. Absolutely divine and I will make them again! Thanks for a wonderful recipe.
You are very welcome!!
I love this recipe, thank you for sharing. My husband and 3 year old daughter thought they were delicious!
That makes me so happy to hear!
The figs make only about half a cup of jam, definitely not enough the amount to fill the fig squares
I’m sorry to hear that the recipe wasn’t a success for you.
I used 12 small figs a friend gave me from her backyard tree. They are small. I’m not sure how large a typical fig is supposed to be. I ended up adding some blackberry preserves to offset my lack of figs. It worked and they turned out great So it would be good to know what size of figs should be used for this recipe. I’m planning on using about 20 of the small figs next time.
The ones I used were about the size of a lime. Hope that helps!
About how many cups of figs jam does 1.5 pounds of figs make? I have fig jam but no fresh figs.
It will be about 2 cups. 🙂
About how many calories are in this recipe?
Thank you Kristen for this simple & delicious recipe!!! I too looove figs. I’ve made your fig square recipe numerous of times now & they disappear in a couple of days. I add lemon zest to fig jam while cooking & 1 cup of chopped walnuts to dry ingredients. I also toast coconut to enhance flavour. Works great with swapping regular flour for almond flour too!
Hope you are growing your very own green fig tree these days?! 🙂
Frozen figs work amazing especially when craving during the winter. Thanks for your creativity!
So happy that you love the recipe! We planted a fig tree last year and can’t wait for it to start producing so I can make this recipe more often!
I don’t have figs and my kids aren’t a fan of them anyway. What fruit could I substitute please?
I haven’t tried any other fruits in this recipe but prunes may work. Or these blueberry bars are delicious, too!
I have a BUNCH of dried fruit left over from holiday baking and these look like a great work snack! Any thoughts on using DRIED fruit? Maybe just a little glug of water? I can just wing it!
I have never tried it with dried fruit so I can’t say for sure. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Oh I’m definitely going to make this when I have my hands on some figs!!
Yaaa!
Hi,
I have some black figs also. Did you keep skins on (I guess they soften like any other fruit when making like jam)?
And just wondering what the flour is for?
Yep … I leave the skins on! The flour is to help hold the base together. If you want a no flour recipe, try using oat flour like in this one: https://www.theendlessmeal.com/healthy-cranberry-coffee-cake/
Will it make a difference if I use black instead of green figs?
As long as they’re fresh figs (not sulfured) you can use black figs instead. As the black ones tend to be a little sweeter, you may want to cut down on the sugar.
Tried the coconut fig squares. Not clear on directions especially the brown sugar part. 1/2?cup in fig mixture or in the topping. Think good to revisit directions and clarify. Please spell out what exact ingredients go in topping and when, just a suggestion….in case another baker tries recipe
Thanks
I really appreciate the heads up that the directions weren’t clear. I agree with you, they weren’t! I’ve made some changes so (hopefully) they are now. 🙂
Wow, this looks so good but i missed out on the figs, someone gave me fig preserves, would it work to use them or should i go with date’s ? I would just love to try these, Thank you ever so much, hope you can
help me out here <3 Thank you, Mary
I bet they would work! When I boiled the figs for a while it essentially made fig preserves. You could make the crust and crumble topping and just use the fig preserves you have as the filler. 🙂
Figs are so great, aren’t they?!!! If I ever have a yard, planting a fig tree is the first thing I’m doing. 🙂