WHOLE WHEAT FIG BAR RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a large bowl, beat together shortening, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until creamy.
• Add all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, orange peel and salt, beating until blended.
• Refrigerate dough 1 to 2 hours.
• Prepare fig filling and set aside, see below.
• On a floured surface, roll dough into 14 inch square.
• Cut dough into 4 equal strips, each 14 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide.
• Spoon 1/4 of fig filling in a 1 1/2 inch wide mound down center of each strip.
• Using a long spatula, lift sides of each dough strip over filling, overlapping slightly on top.
• Press edges together to seal.
• Cut strips crosswise in half for ease of handling.
• Place, seam side down, 3 inches apart on greased baking sheets.
• Brush off any excess flour.
• Cut each strip into 7 (1 inch) crosswise pieces, but do not separate.
• Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until puffed and firm to the touch.
• Cool 5 to 10 minutes on baking sheets; then cut apart and remove to racks to cool completely.
• Fig Filling.
• In a medium saucepan, combine figs, water, lemon or orange juice and granulated sugar.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat and simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally; cool.

Steps:

• To make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8-by-12-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together 1 1/3 cups whole-wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Beat together brown sugar, butter, oil, egg and vanilla in another large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth, making sure no lumps of brown sugar remain, about 1 minute. Add the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well blended. (The dough will be quite firm.)
• Transfer two-thirds of the dough to the prepared baking dish; cover the dough with a piece of plastic wrap and use it to press the dough into the bottom of the dish in an even layer. Remove the plastic wrap. Bake until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes.
• To make the topping: Gradually work enough of the remaining 3 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour into the remaining dough using your fingertips, until it resembles coarse crumbs.
• To make filling: Stir together sugar, all-purpose flour and lemon zest in a small bowl.
• Combine blueberries and lemon juice in a medium saucepan; cook, stirring, over medium heat until the berries begin to exude juice. Add the sugar mixture and stir until the filling reaches a simmer and thickens.
• Push down the higher outside edges of the baked crust with a wooden spoon; pour the hot filling over it and spread all the way to the sides of the dish. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the top. Bake until the topping is golden, 15 to 20 minutes longer.
• Transfer the baking dish to a rack and let cool, covered with a kitchen towel to soften the crumbs slightly. Cut into 15 bars. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar if using. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.