Homemade Fig Newtons

These chewy, fruity snack cookies have been popular with children and adults alike since 1891. Today I’ll show you how I make my version of Homemade Fig Newtons using a simple filling and shaping technique.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE FIG NEWTONS FROM SCRATCH

Fig Newtons are super easy to make at home.

How to Make Fig Paste Filling

If you don’t want to bother with making the fig filling from scratch you can use a store bought good quality thick fig jam instead. Or make your own Fig Jam.

• Fig Paste Ingredients:
• Dried Figs or Fresh Figs (more about how to use fresh figs at the bottom of the post)
• Brown Sugar
• Lemon or Orange Zest
• Juice of One Lemon/Orange
• Grand Marnier or other Orange Liqueur (optional, if not using alcohol use water or orange juice instead)
• Water

Slice or quarter dried figs into a pot. Pour in freshly squeezed lemon/orange juice, lemon/orange zest, brown sugar, water, and orange liqueur (if using). Bring to simmer and cook covered for 20-30 minutes, until very soft. Remove from the heat.

Allow to cool slightly and process in the food chopper until smooth. If the paste appears runny return it to the stove and cook until it is paste consistency. It also thickens slightly as it cools.

TIP: Fig paste can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.

Prepare Cookie Dough

• Cookie Dough Ingredients
• Unsalted Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Granulated Sugar
• Egg yolks
• Vanilla Extract
• All purpose flour
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Cardamom/Cinnamon(optional)
• Orange Zest – recommended (optional)

Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and cardamom/cinnamon (if used) into a large bowl.

Cream room temperature unsalted butter until smooth about 30 second to a minute. Then beat in granulated and brown sugar and cream for 3 minutes until well blended and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla extract and orange zest (if used).

Then gradually, in 3 additions, and on the low-speed beat in flour mixture. Beat until flour is thoroughly moistened and cookie dough starts to come together. Knead with hands for 20 seconds till it comes to a ball. Flatten cookie dough into a disk.

Wrap the cookie dough well into food wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

Fill and Shape Homemade Fig Newtons Cookies

To fill cookies with the fig paste I utilized a simple filling and folding technique.

First, divide cookie dough into 5-6 portions. Shape each piece into a log, (steps 1-3).

Roll out, one portion at a time, between 2 pieces of food wrap. Roll the cookie dough to about 1/12 inch (2mm) thick into a rectangle at least 4 inches wide and 8-10 inches long (steps 4-8).

Carefully peel off the top layer of food wrap. Take a ruler, measure and trim 4 inches wide and about 8-10 inches long rectangle (steps 1-8).

Spoon room temperature fig paste into a piping bag. Take a piping bag filled with a homemade fig paste and pipe a snake lengthwise in the middle of the rectangle, (steps 1-3).

TIP: Let chilled fig paste come to room temperature. It’s easier to spread or pipe room temperature paste than chilled paste onto the cookie dough.

Now lift food wrap and fold the top part over the fig filling, (steps 1-4). Gently press cookie dough onto the filling to flatten it, (steps 5-8).

Now you can repeat with the bottom section. Lift food wrap and fold the cookie dough over the 1st fold, (steps 1-2). Gently press cookie dough down to flatten the roll and to seal the cookie, (steps 3-8).

TIP: For better adhesion, brush a little water on the first fold before sealing the cookie.

To release the cookie log from underneath the food wrap, gently lift the food wrap and peel it off. You can either transfer a whole record onto a baking sheet, or you can slice the log into smaller pieces and transfer sliced cookies onto a baking sheet and bake them off.

I prefer slicing unbaked filled cookie logs into about 1.5-inch (4cm) to 2-inch (5cm) long pieces (steps 1-3).

Slice fig rolls and transfer unbaked fig cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Bake Fig Newtons Cookies

Bake cookies at 350F (180C) for about 10-13 minutes, until lightly golden brown around the edges.

TIP: If you make thicker cookies, bake them 1-3 minutes longer.

How To Store Homemade Fig Newtons?

Transfer baked cookies onto a cooling rack and allow to cool, (steps 1-3).

Once cookies are baked and cooled they are crispy. To achieve their characteristic soft, chewy texture allow them to rest before serving. Fig Newtons taste best when left to “mature”. Store baked cookies in an airtight container between sheet of parchment. Let them rest overnight. Cookies will soften as they rest.

• Fig Newtons cookies keep for up to a week at room temperature.
• Up to a month stored in the fridge.
• You can freeze cookies for up to 6 months.

Can I Use Fresh Figs To make Fig Paste Filling?

Yes, you can use fresh figs. Wash fresh, ripe figs, and remove stems. Quarter them and cook them until soft and falling apart. Fig mixture should be thick. Process in the food processor. If paste looks too runny, return it to the pot and simmer until the paste thickens. Depending on how sweet your fresh figs are, add more or less sugar or honey.

How About Different Fillings, What Can I Use?

If you are not a fig fan you can use other fillings, or combination of fillings made from dried fruits or nuts :

• Apricots
• Raisins
• Plums
• Ground Walnuts – add ground nuts to fruit filling

I Don’t Want to Use Alcohol, Can I use Something Else Instead?

You can use orange juice or water instead of alcohol in the fig paste recipe.

To Make Homemade Fig Newtons You Need

• TOOLS
• Find all tools in my Amazon Shop
• Baking Sheet
• Mixer, either hand held or stand mixer
• Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat
• Piping Bag
• Food Wrap
• Knife

• MORE DELICIOUS FRUIT DESSERTS
• Flamingo Raspberry Meringue Tarts
• Unicorn Apple Pie Pop Tarts
• Easy Fig Cake
• Raspberry Cheesecake with Pretzel Almond Crust
• Peach Cheesecake Tart

This post contains Amazon affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love. Learn more about my affiliate policy here.