Fig Newton Bars

Mercy's Note:

Healthier than store-bought, without all the preservatives!

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup fig, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Cream the shortening and 1 cup sugar; add the egg and beat until light and fluffy.
2. Mix the milk with the vanilla.
3. Sift salt, flour and baking powder together; add alternately with milk to creamed mixture.
4. Blend well.
5. Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured board (rectangle shape).
6. Put figs in saucepan with remaining sugar and 1 cup boiling water.
7. Boil 5 minutes; cool.
8. Spread the cooked mixture over half the dough; fold over the other half of the dough to cover.
9. Cut into rectangular bars.
10. Bake in 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Reviews

[Elisabetta47]

I'm a "5-star or shut-up" rater. But this recipe is a terrific alternative to the commercial product, so I encourage you to make it, with adjustments. To make the dough workable, 1-2 more cups of flour are needed with butter substituting for the shortening. The dried figs should be pureed before boiling. Instead of working with a 2-foot long rectangle of dough (nightmare!), rolling it out into smaller rectangles and spreading on a thin layer of fig filling gets you to the same result more easily. Cut them smallish as the baking powder makes these much puffier than the commercial ones.

[Delores R]

I'm giving this a 4 because I haven't perfected it to suit us yet. I favor the butter and a little wheat flour. Also, I went light on the sugar so it doesn't defeat the purpose of being healthy. Any dried fruit would do too. This recipe has potential!

[Luvs2kook]

YUMMO! I did change the recipe quite a bit. We have wheat, corn, dairy, egg, soy, legume allergies. SO....I used a combo of brown rice flour, sorgum flour and potato starch to replace regular flour. Used baking soda/cream of tartar mix for the baking powder, and 1/4 cup unflavored applesauce for the egg. I used Spectrum shortening for the shortening. I cut up the dried figs into tiny bits and boiled in a little less than 1/4 c sugar and added some vanilla. Then I blenderized it. They were surprsingly delicious! And this is from a mom who can eat anything! Just my kids can't. Thanks for sharing!