Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe - My Whole Food Life (2024)

May 8, 2013May 23, 2017 Melissa King Healthy Cookies, Recipes

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.

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

print shopping list

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

Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe - My Whole Food Life (2) Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe - My Whole Food Life (3)

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 Melissa King

      Recipe Notes

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

      Subscribe

      Join more than 35,000 subscribers and start gettiing free recipes direct to your inbox!

      You may also like

      Vegan Pistachio Truffles
      Lemon Coconut Ice Cream
      Apple Cobbler Breakfast Cookies
      Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk
      1. These are not bad. They aren't great, but they are a decent healthy snack. Cookies without sugar are never that incredible. Looking at other recipes for Fig Newtons, they usually add orange zest or juice to the dough. I plan on doing that next time as the cookie part was pretty bland. I think the amount of leavening could be reduced as well, as they were definitely more puffy than a real fig newton.

        Reply

        1. Sorry they didn't live up to your expectations, but I do understand that not all recipes are going to be a hit with everyone. :)

          Reply

          1. Oh, you misunderstood. I'm totally fine with healthy cookies that are just okay. Cookies that are too good (aka ones with sugar) make you want to eat too many. I just made them again with the substitutions below and they definitely tasted better. Still healthy though. :) These are definitely going to be a staple around here. My substitutions:-1/4 tsp of baking SODA for the baking Powder (It made them less fluffy and gave them a more cookie texture)-2T of orange juice instead of the 2T milk-the zest of one orange (I think the zest from half of the orange would have sufficed.)-I used 1/2 cup of oil instead of the 1/3 cup of oil and the applesauce (that might have also made them a little more crispy on the edges)-I added some dates in with the figs, but that was mostly to combat the less than perfect flavor of my older dried figs. -I also reduced the cinnamon to just a dash of cinnamon.-And I left out the vanilla, but that was an accident.

            Reply

            1. Thanks for sharing your subs. :) I may try and add orange zest next time.

              Reply

      2. Pingback: Copycat Mary's Gone Crackers! - My Whole Food Life

      3. Hi there! Thanks for this recipe! Do you think fresh figs would work for this recipe? I'm wondering if I need to refrigerate or freeze them beforehand for a stickier recipe.

        Reply

        1. Freezing them may work. I am not sure using fresh figs will work though. They may be too watery.

          Reply

      4. These are good! I also spiced up the dough and filling with cinnamon and allspice. Added vanilla and lemon extract to filling (would have rather used orange but I didn’t have any). I appreciate that they aren’t very sweet, that’s exactly what I was looking for.

        Reply

        1. I love the idea of your additions Stephanie! Yum!!

          Reply

      Leave a Reply

      Homemade Fig Newtons Recipe - My Whole Food Life (2024)

      FAQs

      Can I eat Fig Newtons everyday? ›

      This means two fig Newtons will have half of your daily recommended allowance of sugar if you're a woman, and over a third of it if you're a man. If you're not eating much other sugar each day, this might be alright.

      Are Fig Newtons good for bowels? ›

      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.

      What happened to Nabisco Fig Newtons? ›

      The Kennedy Biscuit Company had recently become associated with the New York Biscuit Company, and the two merged to form Nabisco—after which, the fig rolls were trademarked as "Fig Newtons". Since 2012, the "Fig" has been dropped from the product name (now just "Newtons").

      Can a diabetic eat Fig Newtons? ›

      Although they can be very sweet, figs have a moderate glycemic index. This means they release sugar into the body slowly, which helps regulate blood sugar and reduces the likelihood of blood sugar spikes. Figs are a great fruit option for those with diabetes.

      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 are the pros and cons of eating figs? ›

      Along with the fruit, fig leaves and fig leaf tea appear to be beneficial for health. Dried figs in particular may help relieve constipation. However, figs may interfere with blood thinning medications due to their vitamin K content, and dried figs should be eaten in moderation due to their high sugar content.

      Can too many fig Newtons cause diarrhea? ›

      Digestive symptoms

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

      What laxative is made from figs? ›

      Syrup of figs is a formerly proprietary preparation for use as a laxative, now widely available commercially and also easy to make at home.

      Are figs better than prunes for constipation? ›

      Best Dried Fruits for Constipation

      A 1/4 cup serving of dried figs contains about 4 g of fiber, per the USDA, which is comparable to the fiber found in one medium grapefruit. Prunes, also known as dried plums, a common remedy for treating constipation, contain about 3 g of fiber per 1/4 cup, according to the USDA.

      Why did Fig Newtons change their name? ›

      Modern Changes to the Fig Newton

      In 2012, they once again dropped the "Fig" from the name because, as the Kraft specialist Gary Osifchin told The New York Times, they wanted to change the core of the brand to fruit. "It was going to be hard for us to advance the Newtons brand with the baggage of the fig."

      Can dogs eat Fig Newtons? ›

      Do not feed your dog Fig Newtons. These sugary cookies contain additional ingredients (especially sugar and spices) that are not healthy for dogs and, in large amounts, could be toxic. The figs used in these cookies also aren't fresh—so when it comes to sharing your treats, just say no to your dog's begging eyes.

      What is the 15/15 rule for diabetes? ›

      The 15-15 rule—have 15 grams of carbohydrate to raise your blood glucose and check it after 15 minutes. If it's still below 70 mg/dL, have another serving. Repeat these steps until your blood glucose is at least 70 mg/dL.

      What is the best thing for a diabetic to eat before bed? ›

      Low-fat cheese and whole-wheat crackers

      Cheese provides protein, while whole-wheat crackers add dietary fiber. Choose a healthful type of unprocessed cheese. Whole-wheat and whole-grain crackers have lower glycemic index scores than white varieties, meaning that they have less of an impact on blood glucose levels.

      Do figs cause insulin spike? ›

      It's worth noting that you'll often see figs listed as a “top pick” or “best fruit” for people with diabetes because of their low to moderate glycemic index. This means that they should not raise blood sugars as rapidly as high glycemic index foods.

      Are Fig Newtons a healthy dessert? ›

      Fig Newton Bars FAQs

      In my opinion, because these fig newtons are made with whole wheat flour and dried fruit, they are a high fiber sweet treat that is somewhat healthy.

      Can I eat 1 fig everyday? ›

      Figs are also rich in, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, and calcium. Ancient Indian Medical Practitioners uses figs to treat digestive, reproductive, and immune system. To get all the benefits of figs, I suggest eating 2 to 3 Figs daily with empty stomach.

      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.

      Are fig bars healthy for weight loss? ›

      They are high in fiber which aids in digestion, improves satiety, and keeps you feeling full longer. This can help to reduce overeating and, as a result, can aid in weight loss.

      References

      Top Articles
      Latest Posts
      Article information

      Author: Duncan Muller

      Last Updated:

      Views: 6302

      Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

      Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Duncan Muller

      Birthday: 1997-01-13

      Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

      Phone: +8555305800947

      Job: Construction Agent

      Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

      Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.