Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix the topping. Combine the ¼ cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set that aside too.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy — about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and mix until smooth.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low until a soft dough forms. Don’t overmix — just until combined.
Divide the dough in half. Press one half evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar over the dough.
Dollop the fig jam over the cinnamon sugar. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it evenly into a thin layer, leaving a little space around the edges to avoid overflow.
Take the remaining dough and place small spoonfuls across the top. Use clean fingers or a spatula to gently press and spread the dough over the jam. It doesn't need to be perfect — a little jam peeking through is totally fine!
Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar evenly over the top layer.
Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is just set. A toothpick inserted in a non-jammy spot should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Let cool completely in the pan before slicing. The fig layer will firm up as it cools, so give it time to set.
Notes
Erren’s Top Tips
If the dough feels sticky, lightly flour your fingers before pressing it into the pan
Spreading the fig jam gently prevents it from mixing into the dough layers
For clean slices, chill the cooled bars for 30 minutes before cutting
Variations & Add-Ins
Add finely chopped walnuts or pecans to the top layer for crunch
Stir a little orange zest into the dough for a bright citrus note
Use half fig jam and half raspberry jam for a mixed fruit center
Storage & Freezing
Store Fig Filled Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week. These bars freeze well. Slice, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.