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–+ servings

Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe

These homemade fig newtons pair a soft, cake-like dough with a no-cook, jammy fig preserve filling.
This dessert recipe provides a nostalgic take on the classic treat, incorporating variations for other fruits to suit your preferences.
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Active Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 32 bars

Ingredients
  

Cakey Cookie Dough:

  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
  • 1¼ sticks unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ plus 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 3 large egg yolks

No-Cook Fig Preserves:

  • 2½ cups dried Mission figs stems removed
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Instructions
 

Prepare the Dough:

  • Sift the flour into a bowl. In a stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, honey, and orange zest on medium until fluffy.
  • Add orange juice and egg yolks one at a time, mixing until smooth. Lower speed and gradually mix in the flour until combined.
  • Knead the dough to form a smooth ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour (or up to 1 week).

Prepare the Preserves:

  • Pulse figs, applesauce, and orange juice in a food processor until smooth, ensuring no chunks remain.
  • Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a ½-inch plain tip.

Shape and Bake the Cookies:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll chilled dough into an 8-inch square, then into a 15-inch square.
  • Cut dough into four strips. Pipe fig preserves down the center of each strip, fold over, and seal the edges.
  • Flatten strips gently, arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for 18 minutes or until set.
  • Immediately slice into 1-inch bars, layer with parchment in an airtight container, and let mature for 6 hours to soften.

Notes

Variations:
  • Apricot Strawberry: Replace figs with dried apricots and strawberry pulp.
  • Blueberry Lime: Use dried blueberries and lime juice/zest.
  • Cherry Banana: Mix dried cherries and mashed ripe banana.
  • Pig “Newtons”: Add crumbled bacon for a savory twist.
Store fig newtons for up to 1 week at room temperature or 1 month in the fridge.
To enhance the preserves, use high-quality dried fruits that are plump and moist.
Keyword cakey cookies, dessert recipes, fig bar recipe, fruit-filled cookies, homemade fig newtons
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