Make delicious homemade version of popular fig cookies/ cookie&cake.Recipe yields 70 cookiesServing: 5 cookies
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time13 minutesmins
Cooling Time30 minutesmins
Course: Breakfast, Cookies, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fig cookies, fig newtons, fruit cookies
Servings: 14people
Author: Hani
Ingredients
HOMEMADE FIG NEWTONS
Fig Filling
14ozdry figs, sliced, stem removed as needed
1/4cup Grand Marnier, Orange Liqueur, Dark Rum or use water instead or orange juice
1/4cup water
2tbspbrown sugar
Juice and zest of 1 lemon or small orange
Cookie Dough
1 3/4cupall purpose flour
1/4tspbaking soda
1/4tspsalt
1/2tspcardamom or cinnamon (optional)
1/2cuproom temperature butter (113 grams)
1/4cupgranulated sugar
1/4cupbrown sugar
2egg yolks
1tspVanilla Extract
Instructions
HOMEMADE FIG NEWTONS
Fig Filling
Into a pot add sliced dry figs (14 oz., approximately 400 grams), Orange Liqueur or Rum or orange juice (1/4 cup), water (1/4 cup), brown sugar (2 tablespoons),lemon or orange juice (just of one citrus) and lemon or orange zest (of one citrus).
Cover pot with a lid and bring to boil. Lower the temperature to simmer and simmer for 20 minutes, or until figs are very soft and most of the liquid is absorbed by figs. If the figs are very dry it's possible more liquid is needed to cook them till soft. Add more liquid, add 1 to 2 tablespoon water at a time as needed.
Once figs are cooked and very soft, process them in the food processor until smooth. Let cool completely, then fill the piping bag with the filling, set aside.
Filling can be prepared up to a week ahead and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
Cookie Dough
In this recipe I use 2 egg yolks. Separate 2 eggs, save egg whites for later.Sift together flour (1 3/4 cup), baking soda (1/4 teaspoon), salt (1/4 teaspoon) and cardamom/cinnamon (optional, 1/2 teaspoon). Set aside
Beat room temperature unsalted butter (1/2 cup,113 grams) with brown sugar (1/4 cup) and granulated sugar (1/4 cup) until smooth, 5 minutes. Add egg yolks (2 room temperature egg yolks) and beat until combined. Then beat in vanilla extract, (1 teaspoon). Scrape down the bowl few times to ensure everything is well combined.
Lastly, on low speed gradually add flour mixture.
Once the dough comes together, form a disk and wrap the dough into a plastic wrap. Chill for 30 minutes.
How to Fill Fig Newtons
Divide cookie dough into 6 portions. Line the work surface with plastic wrap. Take a piece of cookie dough and form into a log. Put another piece of plastic wrap on top of the log. Press gently. Take a rolling pin and roll it out thinly into a rectangle, at least 4 inches wide. Trim the excess dough so rectangle is 4 inches wide and about 10 inch long
Take a piping bag with the filling and pipe a long rope in the center of the rectangle. Lift one side of plastic wrap and fold the dough over the filling. Press gently to spread and flatten the filling underneath the cookie dough layer. Lift opposite side of the plastic wrap and fold the remaining portion of cookie rectangle over the first cookie fold. Press gently with your hands to flatten it out. Unfold the cookie log, hold one side of plastic wrap, gently roll the log so the seam is on the bottom. Cut the cookie log with a knife into about 1.5 to 2 inch pieces.TIP : You can also bake whole logs if desired. If so bake whole logs for 15-17 minutes, until golden brown. Allow cookies to cool then cut into smaller pieces.
Bake Fig Newtons
Preheat oven to 350F (180C) bake for 10-13 minutes.Transfer cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone baking mat. Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes until very lightly golden on the bottom. Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy. Store in the airtight container. Cookies will get softer as they rest.
Notes
Can I Use Fresh Figs To Make Fig Newtons? Use about 16 fresh figs in this recipe. Yes, you can use fresh figs. Wash and quarter figs. Adjust the sugar amount depending on how sweet are your fresh figs.Can You Freeze Homemade Fig Newtons? Absolutely. Freeze baked fig newtons in an airtight container between pieces of parchment paper. They freeze well for up to 6 months.Have You Tried Using Other Dry Fruits To Make The Filling? I've used dry apricots, plums, and raisins. You can make up your filling by combining different dry fruits and ground nuts. Get creative!Do You Have a Recipe for Homemade Fig Jam? Yes, I have a delicious recipe for Homemade Fig Jam.