Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe

Homemade Fig Newtons for you.  Before we cleaned up our diet, Fig Newtons were a big staple around here.  We all know how fig newtons are often touted as a healthy cookie option for kids.  But if you ever looked at the ingredients, most are not good.

My healthy fig newton recipe is so much healthier than store bought ones and a fig newton you can feel good about giving your kids. These fig newtons also taste better in my opinion. You definitely need to try them.

Homemade Fig Newtons

These are made with whole grains and no refined sugars, unlike the real cookies.  The real cookies contain high fructose corn syrup. 🙁  You can also use the recipe as a base to add in your own fillings.  If you filled these with fruit, they would almost taste like a Nutri-Grain bar as well.

The possibilities are endless.  I also added a little cinnamon to the dough to spice it up a bit.  I think it turned out well that way.  One other thing to note is, using the coconut oil will not make them taste like coconut at all, but it does help add a sweetness to the cookies.

Another great thing about this recipe is that it freezes well.  So you can make up a huge batch and freeze some for later. I suggest storing them in an air-tight container with a piece or parchment between each row of cookies.  That way, you don’t have to worry about them sticking together.

Homemade Fig Newtons

Homemade Fig Newtons

Prep Time 1 hr Cook Time 15 min Serves 16 cookies     adjust servings

A healthier version of the classic cookie.

Ingredients

    For the cookie

    For the filling

    • 15-20 figs (I used dried Turkish Figs I got at Sprouts)
    • 1 T maple syrup
    • water

    Instructions

      For the filling

      1. In a food processor, grind up the figs, 1 T maple syrup and a bit of water. You want the figs to be the consistency of peanut butter so only add a bit of water. I think I used about 1 tablespoon.
      2. Blend into a paste and set aside.

      For the cookie

      1. Preheat oven to 350.
      2. In one bowl mix all the dry ingredients.
      3. In another bowl, mix the wet.
      4. Add dry to wet and mix only until combined. Be careful not to over-mix. The dough will be sticky and a bit wet.
      5. Gather it in a ball and wrap it.
      6. Put the dough in the fridge for about an hour to firm up.
      7. Once firm, roll the dough onto a floured surface. I tried to roll my dough as square as possible.
      8. Once the dough is rolled out, spread the fig mixture onto half of the dough.
      9. Once the fig mixture is spread, fold 1 half of the dough onto the other and cut into squares. I cut mine into about 2×2 squares and used a pizza cutter to do so.
      10. Place on lined baking sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes.
      11. I got about 16 out of my batch.

      by

      Recipe Notes

      They should last a couple of weeks, but you can refrigerate them to make them last even longer. Enjoy!

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      168 thoughts to “Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe”

      1. I'm going to try these but was wondering- do you think dates would work? In Vancouver BC they sold date newtons- but I can't find them in the US.
      2. Oh man you are going to be the death of me! Haha! These are amazing ~ soooo yummy!! I didn't have figs but did have medjool dates so I used those instead. Used 17 of them and added about 2 teaspoons of water. They turned out so good!!! Thank you!!
      3. I feel pretty foolish asking this question as no one has asked this, but... About how large was the square you rolled out in inches? Or maybe you could just tell me how thin the dough should be (1/4"?). I ended up with more dough than filling (or maybe I spread the filling a little thick -- not sure) and would really like to try and get the proportions a little better next time. Suggestions?
          1. Thank you. I know it's not a true science so just a guess is great. They smell fabulous and I can hardly wait for dessert!!
      4. These didn't come out good. In fact, they were disgusting. Maybe I did something wrong, but these tasted all flourish.
      5. I just took the first pan out of the oven. My house smells amazing! Can't wait until they cool. Thanks for giving me a reason to use my mom's original rolling pin. It always makes everything taste amazing!
      6. I've been looking for a Fig Newton recipe for a long time. As soon as I found this one I jumped up to give it a try. I sliced and dehydrated figs from my dad's garden last summer and stuck them in the freezer. For the filling I ground 4 cups of dried sliced figs and 2 strips of dried orange rind in a Bullet and ground it completely. They looked like flour when I dumped them in a bowl. I followed the cookie recipe as listed. Loved the result, but they aren't sweet. I will probably add a little sugar to the dough next time.
      7. Oh dear lord. I thought I had reached the pinnacle of food-related happiness when I discovered your version of pecan pie (thanks again for that, by the way). BUT I made these sweet little beauties last night, and I don't know what I like best! Perhaps I should eat both. At the same time. Just for comparison, of course. Thank you for this. I can't begin to tell you how much your recipes have simplified things for me.
      8. I'm glad I found this recipe! Some modifications I might make for next time: no maple syrup in the fig mixture (very sweet already). Use lemon juice and/or zest in the fig mixture and add water as needed to get the consistency. Add a bit of salt to the dough - maybe half a teaspoon of sea salt - to give it some life. I might play around with some other dried fruit for the filling for fun. It's a very versatile recipe!
      9. I just took these out of the oven and they are DELICIOUS!! I'm training for a marathon at the moment and hate all the artificial fuel foods and thought this time around I'd go the natural route. Fig newtons are one of the recommended running foods but I hate how much fake stuff they pack in those little guys. When I saw your recipe I was so excited but when I took my first bite I was even happier! So good, so natural and so healthy! I think they are going to be great running fuel!! Thank you!
        1. I am not a dietician, so my nutritional info would never be accurate. I would hate to be wrong when it comes to diabetics. You can probably figure out a rough estimate by going to www.caloriecount.com
      10. Way to go Melissa! This link is in a Food Babe's letter about Fig Newton's and she's recommending your recipe. I love your recipes; they are delicious and super easy to make. Thank you!!

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