Fig Newtons Recipe (Copycat) - Recipes.net (2024)

Fig Newtons Recipe (Copycat) - Recipes.net (1)

Fig Newtons are the iconic biscuit or pastry with tender cookie crusts and jammy fig fillings that everyone loved growing up. These fig cookies might not be as famous today, but everyone who grew up having them testify that they are simply the best. Its soft, buttery cake-like crust and sweet fruity filling fill us with excitement while opening its yellow packaging.

The good news is that we have cracked the code in making these fig rolls! Pair the homemade fig bars with a breakfast fruit smoothie for the perfect afternoon snack.

Tips for Making Fig Newtons

Our Fig Newton cookies are made with dried figs as they are more concentrated in flavor compared to fresh ones. We’re marinating them in apple juice for a more fruity flavor and to ensure a moist filling. In addition, we’re making our pastry with a mixture of all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and egg yolks for a moist yet stable dough with an added nutty flavor.

Recreating a trademark pastry or even baking, in general, may sound intimidating, but we’d love to make it easier for you with these helpful tips. Be sure to follow these when making your homemade Fig Newtons.

  • Let the filling cool down to room temperature first before using it. If you use it hot, your cookie will oil up and will end up being greasy.
  • You can make your fig jam ahead of time. Once cooked, allow them to cool down to room temperature before putting them in a sealed container and refrigerating them. When you are ready to bake, take them out of the refrigerator and let them rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  • Work quickly so the dough will not soften too much and eventually get tacky and difficult to work with. If this happens, simply put them back inside the refrigerator for another 30 minutes or so to cool them down.
  • Store your warm cookies in a container with a paper towel rolled out the surface. Fill it up with your Fig Newtons, and before fully closing the container, cover the cookies with another paper towel to trap condensation from the lid. This is the key for the tender exterior these fig cookies are known for. They become softer and taste even better the next day.

How To Make Fig Newtons (Copycat)

Our iconic copycat Fig Newtons scream nostalgia. With its freshly baked aroma, thick yet light crust, and sweet filling, you’ll surely want more.

Prep: 35 mins

Chill and Soak Time:: 2 hrs

Cook: 25 mins

Total: 3 hrs

Makes:

Ingredients

For Fig Filling:

  • 1 lb dried figs
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp lemon juice, fresh

For Cookie Crust:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 pcs egg yolks
  • 1 tbsp cream, or milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Dice the figs and soak them in apple juice, salt, and lemon juice mixture for 1 hour.

  3. Cook the ingredients in a pot on medium heat until a thin, jam-like consistency is achieved. Set aside to cool, then transfer to a pastry bag.

  4. In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and light brown sugar until fluffy. Then, beat in the egg, milk or cream, and vanilla. You may do this on a stand mixer, food processor, or by hand.

  5. Add the dry ingredients and mix well until fully incorporated. Form it into a dough ball and wrap using plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for 1 hour to set.

  6. Take the dough out of the fridge and divide it into 6 portions.

  7. Form each portion into a log. In between two sheets of parchment paper, use a rolling pin and flatten to ⅛ inch rectangles, about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide. Cut off excess dough to achieve these dimensions.

  8. Pipe a straight line of fig filling in the middle of the rectangular dough sheet. Using the parchment paper as leverage, lift one side of the dough to cover the filling. Gently flatten the dough, and do the same on the other side until the fig filling is fully covered. The end result should be a flattened rectangular log. Repeat until all six dough portions are used up. You might need to refrigerate the other pieces of dough while doing this.

  9. Cut the cookie logs into 2-inch squares and lay them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

  10. Bake the fig newtons in the middle rack for 10 to 15 minutes or until the bottom crust is golden brown.

  11. Let the fig cookies rest for 5 minutes. After that, transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

  12. Store the cookies in an airtight container lined with a paper towel at the bottom and on top.

Nutrition

  • Sugar: 13g
  • :
  • Calcium: 40mg
  • Calories: 118kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Cholesterol: 10mg
  • Fat: 4g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Iron: 1mg
  • Monounsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Potassium: 133mg
  • Protein: 1g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Sodium: 76mg
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Vitamin A: 105IU
  • Vitamin C: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimer

Share your thoughts and experiences with making this delicious Fig Newtons copycat recipe in the Recipe Sharing forum section. Let's discuss any tips, variations, or memories associated with this classic cookie!

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Commonly Asked Questions

Can I use fresh figs for making Fig Newtons?

Definitely! Use 16 ounces of fresh figs and ½ cup of apple juice for this recipe. To turn them into a jam, wash them, remove the hard stem, and proceed according to the recipe. It’s just that fresh figs might not be sweet enough so make sure to adjust by adding sugar accordingly.

Are Fig Newtons healthy?

Figs are known to be densely packed with fibers that help aid digestion. These Fig Newtons have a pretty high fig to cookie ratio. However, there are added sugars and fat. So, while these cookies are generally a healthier snack option, it is still best to consume them in moderation.

Fig Newtons Recipe (Copycat) - Recipes.net (2)

Conclusion

These fantastic Fig Newtons are worth recreating. Follow the recipe above and your cookies will always come out perfect. Serve this as a snack or dessert anytime.

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Fig Newtons Recipe (Copycat) - Recipes.net (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in a Fig Newton? ›

INGREDIENTS: FIGS, WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), CORN SYRUP, INVERT SUGAR, SOYBEAN AND/OR CANOLA OIL, PALM OIL, SALT, BAKING SODA, CALCIUM LACTATE, MALIC ACID, SOY LECITHIN, SODIUM ...

What is in the middle of a Fig Newton? ›

Newtons are a Nabisco-trademarked version of a cookie filled with sweet fruit paste. "Fig Newtons" are the most popular variety (fig rolls filled with fig paste). They are produced by an extrusion process.

How many bugs are allowed in Fig Newtons? ›

Here you would learn that fig paste is allowed to have up to 13 insect heads per 100 grams.

Are Fig Newtons good for constipation? ›

Try high fiber snack foods such as sesame bread sticks, date-nut or prune bread, oatmeal cookies, fig newtons, date or raisin bars, granola and corn chips. Try natural “laxative-type” foods- bran, whole grain cereals, and prune juice.

Are Fig Newtons actually healthy? ›

Pros: Fiber Content: Fig Newtons are made with fig paste, which is a good source of dietary fiber. Fiber is important for digestive health and can help regulate blood sugar levels and promote satiety. Low in Saturated Fat: These cookies typically contain lower amounts of saturated fat compared to some other cookies and.

What kind of figs are used in Fig Newtons? ›

Mission figs, as opposed to any other variety of dried fig, will deliver the most accurate flavor to resemble the store-bought variety of Fig Newtons. You can use another type of dried fig, but know that you might have to add more or less water to the filling to make it smooth, and that the flavor may vary.

Are there actual figs in Fig Newtons? ›

The label lists flour, figs, sugar, corn syrup, vegetable oil, salt, corn fiber, oat fiber, baking soda, calcium lactate, malic acid, soy lecithin, sodium Benzoate, and sulfur dioxide. There is no dairy in there or any animal based products, so, yes, Fig Newtons are vegan. However, Fig Newtons are not gluten-free.

What is the original Fig Newton? ›

In 1891, they produced the first Fig Newtons baked at the F.A. Kennedy Steam Bakery. The company named the pastries after the town of Newton, Massachusetts. After recently becoming associated, the Kennedy Biscuit Company and the New York Biscuit company merged to form Nabisco.

What is the original name of Fig Newtons? ›

It was originally called just a "Newton" and the "Fig" part was added after the fact because people liked the fig jam filling. The machine that makes Newtons was invented by James Henry Mitchell in 1891, and the Kennedy Biscuit Works started making and selling them around that time.

Are there wasp eggs in figs? ›

If the wasp climbs into a female fig, she pollinates it, but cannot lay her eggs and just dies alone. Luckily for us, the female fig produces an enzyme that digests this wasp completely. The crunchy bits are seeds, not wasp parts.

Can too many fig Newtons cause diarrhea? ›

Since figs have a high fiber content, eating too many figs — especially dried figs — can cause diarrhea.

Are there ants in figs? ›

Ants find the sweet interior irresistible. But they do crawl out when you disturb them, and they don't usually affect the eating quality of the figs.

What is the number 1 fruit for constipation? ›

Prunes are often hailed as the number one food to help you go number two — and for good reason. Prunes, which are just dehydrated plums, are packed with fiber, which helps keep food moving through the digestive system. They also contain the sugar alcohol sorbitol, which has a laxative effect, Chey explains.

What are the side effects of figs? ›

Figs have some potential downsides. For instance, as they're sometimes used as a home remedy for constipation, figs may cause diarrhea or other digestive problems ( 10 ). Figs are also fairly rich in vitamin K, which can interfere with blood thinning medications and cause them to be less effective ( 1 , 23 ).

Can I eat fig Newtons everyday? ›

Tip. Fig Newton cookies are a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth than other types of cookies. But they contain a significant amount of sugar, so try not to eat too many.

Why do fig Newtons have so much sugar? ›

The dehydration process of drying this fruit results in a higher concentration of sugar relative to weight, so dried figs have a higher concentration of carbohydrates—mostly in the form of sugar—than fresh figs. For instance, a 60 gram serving of dried, uncooked figs has 6 grams of fiber and 29 grams of sugar.

Do Fig Newtons have nuts in them? ›

While nut-free granola bars are tough to find, Fig Newtons are another nut-free treat that's similar. It's quick and easy to toss a few in your child's lunchbox to enjoy for an afternoon snack.

Do fig newtons taste like figs? ›

While Fig Newtons do have a hint of sugar fig flavor, they can't compare to the wonderful taste of a fresh fig off a tree. We use the figs from our backyard orchard in a variety of ways. Many of them never make it inside the house, because we eat them right off the tree.

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