Brown Sugar Fig Walnut Oat Bars

Ingredients

• 16 ounces dried figs, chopped
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 1 cup margarine or butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

Method

1. 1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
2. 2 Combine figs, walnuts, sugar, orange juice, and hot water in a bowl; set aside.
3. 3 Beat margarine and brown sugar until creamy. Add egg and mix until smooth.
4. 4 Stir flour and baking soda into the egg mixture, then blend in oats to form a soft dough.
5. 5 Reserve 1 cup of dough. Press remaining dough into the pan bottom, spread fig mixture over it, and crumble reserved dough on top.
6. 6 Bake 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely in the pan, then cut into 24 bars.