March 25, 2021

Better Than Fig Newtons


Every year I can a lot of figs, but I dehydrate some too. I'm not much in the habit of using my dried foods and decided I need to remedy that. The other day, I researched recipes for homemade fig newtons that used dried figs. I ended up combining three recipes and the results were excellent! Here it is, so I can make it again.

Better Than Fig Newtons

Fig Filling:

  • 2 cups dried figs
  • 1¾ cup apple juice
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • ¼ cup sugar

Mix in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and let sit until most of the liquid is absorbed and the figs are moist and plump.

Crust:

  • 1 cup unbleached white flour
  • ½  cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 large egg

Cream butter and sugar, add egg and dry ingredients. Pat half of the dough into a greased 8" x 12" baking dish. Roll out the other half into an 8" x 12" rectangle. Spread fig mixture over bottom crust. Place top crust on top. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. When cool, slice into squares.

Recipe Notes:

  • Orange juice is the "secret ingredient" that gives these that fig newton flavor.
  • Of course, you can substitute a different juice or use water to rehydrate the figs.
  • You can substitute your choice of flour.
  • And sweetener! Use what you like. 

We really liked these. I cut way back on the sweetener in the recipes because 1) so many cookie recipes are too sweet for our liking, and 2) the figs and fruit juices are already sweet. This was perfect. 

32 comments:

Michelle said...

I wonder if I could use my dried prunes in this. I guess it's worth a try!

Cederq said...

Those look yummy! Tell ya what, I will send my address and you can graciously send me a care package of those fig newtons and I will be eternally grateful!

Kevin

Leigh said...

Michelle, great idea! I think this would work with any dried fruit!

Kevin, lol, I'll remember that!

Susan said...

Oh, boy, do those delicious! I might try and make a GF version.

daisy g said...

They look great!

Mama Pea said...

Those look absolutely wonderful! Fig Newtons were my grandpa's very favorite cookies. Store-bought, unfortunately, but they were probably made with better ingredients way back then. No access to dried figs here except for the rather expensive purchased ones, but oh my gosh, your homemade ones look soooo good!

Leigh said...

Susan, GF flour would work very well with this!

Daisy, thanks!

Mama Pea, I think Michelle's idea of prunes is a really good one. I was thinking about maybe trying dates. Or dried cranberries. You could probably even use raisins!

Ed said...

I love fig newtons but I'm almost ashamed to say the only ones I have eaten are those that come in the little packages in the cookie section of the grocery store. I can only imagine that the taste of "real" fig newtons is so much better.

Tiny Tiger Farmers said...

Yummy-sounding recipe!! I can't wait to try it. here's to hoping my fig trees produce this year. :)

Nina said...

Thank you for sharing your fig recipe. I've made homemade fig newtons before and they were a real booger to prepare. This is a dream by comparison! I'll definitely be fixing this recipe. Thanks again.

Leigh said...

Ed, I agree, even the store bought ones are really good. But I think these taste better! :)

Unknown, may it be a good fig year for us all!

Nina, I confess I steered clear of the complicated recipes. :) I didn't want to roll anything up, but this one was fairly easy. Worth it!

Leigh said...

Tiny Tiger Farmers, hello and welcome! Thank you for identifying yourself. :)

wyomingheart said...

Well, that looks like a dandy with coffee! Thanks for sharing, and I may try to make some with almond flour!

Leigh said...

Wyomingheart, almond flour sounds yummy! I should try with my pecan meal. :)

Cockeyed Jo said...

I did something similar one blueberry picking season. My kids called it "Mom's Pop Tart" and they begged for it every time we picked any fruit. I just rehydrated the figs and let the natural sugars sweeten the paste filling. My favorite way to use dried figs is making a Lady Baltimore cake. It's extremely rich and decadent.

Retired Knitter said...

Oh my!! That looks wonderful. I hate anything “kitchen” ... preferring to just buy an item, but sometimes I am forced to admit, you can’t buy everything ... you just have to do the deed yourself! I think this is one of those times.

Leigh said...

Jo, that reminds me that somewhere I have a homemade pop-tart recipe, although I've never tried it. And I've heard of Lady Baltimore cake, but never tried that one either. So many yummy ways to use dried fruit.

RT, they do look good, don't they? I went for the easiest newton instructions I could find! I admit I wanted the layers, but didn't go so far as to make squashed, filled rolls, lol. I'm going to try this with some other fruits I think too.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Oh my gosh, that looks so good. I haven't tried to grow figs here. Hm. I may have to look into that now. Thanks for sharing.

Boud said...

Thanks for the recipe. I'm definitely trying this. Great idea. As soon as I get some figs..

Ann said...

Definitely need to try this, especially a prune version since we grow them. Question: when you say you use "less sugar," is this recipe already adjusted down or would we reduce sugar from the recipe as shown? I ask because when I write out recipes for my kids I give them the original and where I found it. Then I add notes about any changes I make. I don't know why but this is what they asked me to do.

Tiny Tiger Farmers said...

Thank you! Glad to be here. :)

Leigh said...

Kristina, figs are really nice to add to the pantry shelves, both dried and canned. I freeze some too (when I have room in the freezer!)

Boud, if you like fig newtons, you'll like these~

Ann, I think prunes would be delicious. I'd like to try dates too.

You're correct, the sugar in this recipe is already adjusted down. And for you or anyone who's interested, here are the recipes I used to make my version:
Food.com
Dessert for Two
HGTV

Tiny Tiger Farmers, :)

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Fig Newtons. One of two ways I actually enjoy figs.

The other is wrapped in bacon...

Goatldi said...

Well now I just happen to have a bare root mission fig growing out in the orchard. I am so happy you posted this at this time I probably will not be able to use it at least until a year from now but I am certainly looking forward to it and tucked it away in my library!

Rosalea said...

Thank you Leigh. Must try these as Fig Newtons are Hubby's favourite. I have a recipe for them but it looks so complicated. Yours looks so much easier.

Leigh said...

TB, wrapped in bacon? That's one I hadn't heard of but it sounds pretty good. Are the figs broiled or grilled?

Goatldi, yay fig tree! If you keep them pruned close to the ground, they become very easy to harvest. :)

Rosalea, easy is me! Or at least simple. A lot of the recipes for homemade fig newtons do indeed look pretty complicated, which is why I haven't tried them until now. This recipe is about my speed. :) And it's worth it!

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Leigh, I believe they were either broiled or grilled - served as an appetizer. They were delicious (well, anything wrapped in bacon is delicious).

Here is a recipe. I just found it and make no claims to its deliciousness (but bacon!): https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/bacon-wrapped-stuffed-figs-3363477

Leigh said...

Oh wow, the recipe even uses dried figs. And goat cheese! Bacon is a favorite here too. Bookmarked!

chipmunk said...

Thank you so much for this recipe! I am always looking for a way to use my figs, and this looks really good.

Leigh said...

Chipmunk, you're welcome! I've been making an effort to find more ways to use our homegrown foods and my blog is a good way to keep track of the successes. :)

Boud said...

I did make Newtons. Blueberry not fig! I had blueberries from my latest Misfits box, made jam, an used some of it as filling. My pastry was your recipe but a slightly different method of assembling and baking. It came out great, and I thank you for putting the idea in front of me! I blogged about it here:
https://fieldfen.blogspot.com

Leigh said...

Boud, I love the idea of blueberry newtons! Great idea; they look really yummy. Thanks for the link.