This recipe has the potential to be messy. If you decide to crush your pretzels in their bag and you get a little carried away with the rolling pin pulverizing and your bag has a weak spot you might end up with pretzels everywhere. Just maybe.
Be smart. Watch the video. Use your blender instead.
But don’t worry, there’s still mess potential. If you decide to not use a mixing spoon and use your hands instead (more mixing leverage) and you get gooey date caramel all over them and it mixes with the fresh fig juice you might end up with sticky fingers. It’s a possibility.
Just 6 ingredients. 3 delicious layers. 30 minutes baking. 8 crumbly squares. Many bites of salty-sweet gooey chewy snacking. Just watch…
Picking your pretzels. Most store-bought pretzels have a pretty short ingredient list, but here are some of my favorite healthy picks…
– Low sodium option: Newman’s Own Organics Unsalted Rounds
– Spelt option: Newman’s Own Organics Spelt Pretzels
– Gluten-free and soy-free option: Gluten Free Pretzel Crisps Minis
– Or if you’re really industrious, make them: Homemade Mini Pretzels from Fork and Beans
Vanilla Pretzel Fig Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed pretzels
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 16 pitted Medjool dates
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder (or 1 tsp extract)
- 5–6 fresh figs (sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300F.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats and pretzel crumbs.
- Blend the dates, water, and vanilla in a blender until smooth. Remove 1/4 cup of the date paste and set aside.
- Add the rest of the date paste to the dry mixture. Mix with your hands until it is a thick clumpy dough.
- Press the dough into a 9×5″ loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
- Spread the reserved date paste on top.
- Arrange a single layer of sliced figs on top of the date paste.
- Bake for about 30 minutes at 300F.
- Remove from the oven. Cool. Cut into squares. Devour!
PRETZELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Figs!!! I love you!
Thank you for making my Tuesday just a bit more merry 😉 <3
Two of the best things in the wacky snacky world 🙂 Got the soy-free and gluten free pretzel recommendation from you <3 xoxo
I am such a pretzel addict! These sound incredible Natalie! All of these flavours sound aaaaamazing! I love the combo of dates and figs. Mmmm, I love how healthy they are too! <3
★★★★★
Pretzel addicts unite! They are my favorite crunchy snack <3 Pretzels + peanut butter + a side of grapes, best snack ever! I started with the figs and dates, then found some pretzels hiding in the pantry, and then the vanilla was just a must at that point 🙂 haha Thanks Harriet!
Whooooaaaa! I’ve been planning a recipe using pretzels and dates for a while too! But haven’t been able to find any pretzels that make me happy, but I’m definitely going to go searching for the kinds you listed!
These look soooooo goooooooooood!!! Sweet and salty deliciousness.
Girl we just think alike! I’m not sure what you are looking for in a pretzel, none are completely clean, but Newman’s Own is my go-to for pretzels! And I love pretzels so much that I’m okay with a bit of oil in there 🙂 The sweet and salty desserts must live on!!! 😉 haha
Delicious <3
Federica
http://www.thecutielicious.com
The Cutielicious
Thanks!
Pretzels and figs?! Never thought I’d see a recipe like this, but it sounds unbelievable — I LOVE it. Wish I had some pretzels now — I’d be making this instantly <3
Kinda just threw a bunch of stuff I love into one pan, did some mushing and jigsawing, and viola! The pretzel fig combo is definitely one to try…pretzels and any juicy sweet fruit really <3
I thought you’d have a new fig recipe soon since Publix had them BOGO recently! Looks fantastic! Sweet and salty snacks are my favorite kind of snacks. Adding figs and pretzels to my next grocery list 🙂
Hahahaha 😀 Yup my recipes pretty much just follow the Publix fruit sale schedule 🙂 I totally got these on BOGO and then was like whoa I have a lot of figs, I need to make something! Pretzels are one of my favorite dessert ingredients, I have some pretzel chocolate recipes in mind too. It’s the sweet and salty thing, just too good!
I honestly want to reach into my screen and grab a big bite of one of those juicy figs and those gorgeous bars 🙂 Absolutely lovely pics, Natalie! I am really digging these bars!
Thank you Ceara! There is something about figs that is just so tantalizing 🙂
These look and sound AMAZING! Vanilla. Pretzels. Salty & sweet!!! Oh, my ❤️ It’s been forever since I’ve had pretzels because all the ones I’ve seen have soy or gluten. I’ll have to check out the ones you suggest. Can’t wait to watch the video!
So many of my favorite flavors too <3 I'm so happy there are more and more gluten-free pretzel options popping up, and now finally soy-free ones! Because pretzels are kind of a perfect snack food 🙂 Thank you Mandy!
Oh, wow! What a great idea, Natalie!! 🙂 Can’t wait to give it a try!
Thanks Sina! Pretzels in sweet baking, definitely a must try 🙂
Yumm! These look super delicious. Loved the first sentence “This recipe has the potential to be messy. ” but I totally expected pretzel crumbs all over your kitchen in the video. We have these amazing pretzel sticks filled with peanut butter in some stores and they’re so addictive! They also happen to be vegan – so yeah.
Oh yum, PB filled pretzels!?! Those would be incredible in a dessert! I think I’ve heard of those here too…maybe at Trader Joes…but never tried them, not sure if they’re vegan :/ Imagine a pie crust made with those and a chocolate filling…I’m drooling <3 Lol, most the crumbs were on my hands...and the floor 🙂 And secret time: I don't actually film in my kitchen! It's just a white board propped up in my living room (or sometimes bedroom) because that's where the light is the best 😀 haha
ohhh that sounds really, really good 😀 I’ve been meaning to make a homemade version of the peanut butter filled pretzel sticks but somehow never managed to try it yet. Soon 🙂
Ooh I hope you do!!
Oh wow! I love figs to death and the sweet & salty combo just takes this dessert to a whole new level! Amazing as always!
★★★★★
Thank you Lucie, so sweet of you! If only fig season was longer <3
Being on vacation last week I completely miss those! Oh my gosh, they sound so good. I just had 1 kilo of fresh figs at home that we took with us from Croatia. That would’ve been perfect…but oh well, we ate them already 😀 I really love the base too – I’m a huge pretzel fan!
I remember you love pretzels from our snack swap! Although I think those pretzels would be a whole different flavor profile! Maybe not the best in this sweet recipe, but a savory recipe with those herby seasoned pretzels as the base could be pretty awesome! I hope you had an amazing vacation, and if there were lots of fresh figs involved than it must have been good 🙂
Ah, I love all kinds of pretzels – be it the herby ones that you sent me or regular ones or filled ones or…. 😀 A savory recipe with herby pretzel bits…well, now you got my brain working! Probably I’m going to come up with something 😉 The vacation was really wonderful – we had perfect weather and the sea was beautiful to swim in too. And well, the food. Oh my. So good! <3
Oh my goodness Kat, that sounds fantastic! A perfect way bid goodbye to summer 🙂 Maybe another travel post soon?? 😉
Yes, very soon <3 But first, another travel announcement post this week 😉
Wow Natalie, you are so creative! Adding pretzels to figs and in bar form, oh my!! I LOVE pretzels so much and think they would taste good on about anything…I love their salty crunch. These are beautiful and I love how healthy they are! What a fantastic recipe!
Thank you Brandi! Pretzels are amazing with sweet things! Pretzel sticks with a heaping spoonful of your Strawberry (or Blueberry) Cream Cheese and I’d be a happy pretzel-dipping girl 🙂
Oh I have to make this! 🙂
You do Christine! I wish we could trade fig-topped treats 🙂