Fig Cookie Bars
When I was a kid my parents were pretty strict about not keeping “junk food” in the house. We never had things like potato chips, packaged cookies, or pop readily available to us. They were all reserved for a treat – a birthday party, eating out, sleepovers, etc. The only snack I remember being in the house pretty much all the time was pretzels, but forget it when it came to anything else. It wasn’t really until high school that I started trying different types of packaged cookies, and through four years of hanging out at friends’ houses, weekend retreats, and bus trips, I emerged with three loves: soft-baked chocolate chip cookies, pink-iced animal cookies, and Fig Newtons. Only one still tugs at my heart strings today – my beloved Fig Newtons. I can do without any other store-bought treat, but any time I see those in the store I immediately want to buy a box and then sit down and eat the entire thing. It’s the one treat that I never thought could be properly replicated at home. I really should know better. You can make anything homemade. And it’s guaranteed to taste a thousand times better than what you buy in the store. All hail Fig Bars!
No one in my family seems to like figs, but my mom has told me on a number of occasions that my grandpap LOVED figs and, as a result, their house was always stocked with Fig Newtons. Now I know it’s in my blood :)
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These fig bars require a few steps, but can still be completed in less than 2 hours. I was astonished at how similar to Fig Newtons they actually taste. The filling is spot-on, and the cookie base and topping has the same type of soft, sponge-like texture that the cookies have. There is one key to these bars being a perfect replication – make sure that you use Turkish or Calimyrna figs. These are lighter on the outside than the more typical Mission figs. I found the Calimyrna dried figs right next to the Mission figs at the grocery store, so I believe they are readily available in most locations. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an entire pan of cookies to eat!
What are your favorite store-bought treats that you enjoy recreating at home?
One year ago: Cookies for the Super Bowl
Four years ago: Chewy Chocolate-White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Fig Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (93.75 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (60 g) whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt + Pinch of salt, divided
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (165 g) light brown sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) dried Turkish or Calimyrna figs, stemmed and quartered
- 2 cups (496 ml) apple juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, allowing excess to hang over the pan edges. Grease the foil; set pan aside.
- Combine the flours, baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt in a small bowl. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. Stir in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Place all but ¾ cup dough into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake until just golden, about 20 minutes. After you put the bottom crust in the oven, roll the remaining dough into an 8-inch square between two sheets of greased parchment paper, then place in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the figs, apple juice, and the remaining pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until very soft and syrupy, 15 to 20 minutes; cool slightly. Process the mixture with the lemon juice in a food processor until jam-like.
- Spread the fig mixture evenly over the baked crust. Top with the frozen dough square and press lightly on the dough to adhere. Bake until the top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Using the foil overhang, lift bars from pan and cut into squares. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
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These look amazing. I want a whole plate full.
Do you know nutritional info for these. They look delicious!
Hi Courtney, I do not have the nutritional information, but I am working on adding that feature to the site in the very near future!
These look sooo much better than the nabisco varity!
Why haven’t I had fig newtons in years again? Reading this I’m not sure why.
Can I not use whole wheat flour or do you think it is essential to the recipe?
You could use all-purpose flour for the recipe and I think it would be fine.
Congrats on your top 9! This recipe is certainly deserving of it! I was just looking for a fig bar recipe because I bought a huge bag of them at Costco…they’re mission figs though. Do you think they’ll still work? :-( We eat a lot of Newman’s brand fig bars in this house and I decided it wasn’t cost effective anymore and that I’m going to make them. This recipe looks PERFECT!
Hi Maggie, You could use the Mission figs; they won’t be an exact replication, but I’m sure still fabulous!
Out of this world, like always! Congrats on the Foodbuzz top 9!
I completely understand your love of Fig Newtons. I have to limit myself to those twin packs from the gas station so i don’t eat a whole package from the grocery store :) These look fantastic and much better for me (and I’m sure much better tasting!) – thanks for sharing.
mmmmmm figs. This looks so delightful and tasty. My mom never kept junk food around the house either except for ice cream. I think it was a good thing. When I moved out and started shopping for my self, it never even occurred to me to buy snack and junk food unless for a special treat. Even now, I make all my snacks from scratch rather than buy store-bought. Always love to make my own cookies and ice creams!
Figs are freaking fantastic. Fabulous recipe!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
Simply amazing! I’d love to try them too very soon! :)
These are so pretty! I love figs; I wish I had one of these right now!
These look amazing… I love fig newtons. Can’t wait to give them a try!
oo homemade Fig Newtons! What a great recipe!
These were my all time favorites as a kid!! Long before I ever tasted a fresh fig. I can’t wait to give these a try, thanks!
I have yet to try bar making at home. This looks really good and I love fig newtons so I have got to try this. When I do I’ll blog it and link it back to you :)
When I saw your fig bars come up on my Facebook feed I admit, I got excited. Like you, I still fondly remember Fig Newtons from my childhood and still occasionally enjoy them today. I have always wanted to try them at home but never knew where to start. You made my day sharing these with us. I will make them for sure, thank you!
Ooohh these sound delicious! I was always the only one in my family that liked fig newtons so I rarely got to have them. I have to try these, I love homemade versions of yummy treats!
my husband loves fig newtons…these are a must-try. love that there are no odd ingredients in them either. :)
I am beyond excited to make these! I already had plans to go to Trader Joe’s today, and after seeing these on your site, I picked up the figs while out shopping :)
These look so good! I’ve just figured out how delicious dates are…and I’m sure they’re even better in a delicious bar. Now if we could just figure out how to replicate those iced animal crackers. I’m still tempted whenever I see those in the store!
I’ve been wanting to try a fig dessert recipe. I love the flavor and texture of it. This sounds perfect!
gotta love custom cookies
If it wasn’t for my dad, I probably would have never tried a Fig Newton. It’s been so long since I have had one. I think I will revisit that loved flavor and texture with this recipe!
I will definitely be trying these out! My grandparents were much older when I was born and therefore I do not have a lot of memories of them. They lived on a farm and my grandfather was a cotton farmer, but I was pretty young when they had to leave because of health reasons, etc. One of the only memories that I have from going to their house is that there was a drawer in the kitchen and it always had a package of Fig Newtons. :)
I love figs – got introduced to them in Italy a few years ago. This looks like an awesome recipe!
ahhh i cannot wait to try these–i haven’t had a fig newton in years, but they’re one of my cookie loves (along with the pink iced animal cookies…best cold from the fridge!!)
Last night I dreamed about eating figs (I’ve been craving them lately) and here you go posting a homemade Fig Newton recipe today. It was meant to be!
My dad loves these! I’m going to try to make them next month:)
Just made them and they are delicious! They are just as good hot as they are cold!
I love Fig Newtons and haven’t had one in way too long, I need to try making my own soon!
I must try this recipe … I feel like I owe it to my family. When we moved into our home many years ago, there was a very young fig tree in the backyard. My husband and son asked if I could make Fig Newtons … I laughed and said “No!” Soon the tree disappeared … we think the dog ate it!