How To Make Fig Newtons At Home

Sure, it's easy to buy cookies at the grocery store or even the latest health-food variety at a local farmers market, but there is something rewarding and delicious about making cookies at home. Chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies are some favorites, but how about the classic fig bars, made popular by Nabisco as Fig Newtons? These cookies consist of a sweet fig jam rolled up in a cake-like pastry — and they're easier to make at home than you think.

Click here to see the Fig Newton Recipe

Don't let the figs scare you. They can be luscious and sweet — even if they aren't wrapped in bacon. The smooth skin is contrasted with the chewy texture of the flesh and is slightly crunchy with the seeds. For our recipe, we used dried figs simply for the ease and convenience, but fresh figs would work as well. It might require a little more cooking time to cook out some of the liquid. Try using fresh figs when they are at their flavor peak during the summer months.

If you're still not a fan of the traditional fig filling, you can replace it with another flavor jam. Try strawberry, raspberry, or mixed berry. This is the beauty of making things at home — being able to customize everything to fit your own tastes and likes. So, skip the grocery store cookie aisle and head straight home to test out this fig newton recipe. We're sure it's going to be a returning favorite on your baking list. 

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.