Growing up I LOVED fig newtons... but Mama Wendy never bought them. They were on her list of junk food. There were a lot of foods on this list now that I come to think of it; no pop, no fruit rollups, no sugar cereal, no white bread, not even chocolate milk. But, now that I'm older, I thank her for raising us kids like this. If we're being completely honest, I will do the same with my kids. Lately, I've also been kind of fig obsessed. I'm not sure why I didn't discover them earlier in life. So once I found this recipe, I decided I had to make it. It fulfills my childhood craving, and my current love. As with all my recipes, I did not come up with it on my own, I found this one on My New Roots. Sarah, the author, has become someone I admire and would love to meet someday. Her recipes are always delicious, good for you, and never cease to amaze me.
These are best eaten straight from the oven, Lauren and I may or may not have eaten the whole pan the first time we made them (oops). They are the perfect cookie to satisfy that cookie craving too!
Makes 20-24 newtons
Ingredients:
Filling:
1 cup dried figs (any variety will work)
½ - ¾ cup strong-brewed rooibos
tea
½ vanilla bean, scraped
2 tsp. lemon juice
pinch sea salt
Dough:
1 cup rolled oats (try half as almond flour to boost the protein)
¼ cup coconut sugar
¼ tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 ½ Tbsp. chia seeds
3 Tbsp. strong-brewed rooibos
tea
3 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Brew the tea. Use two bags to
make the tea very strong. Boil ¾ cup water and pour over the tea. Let steep for
15-20 minutes, then remove the bags or strain. Take out three tablespoons and
stir in 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, set aside to gel.
2. To make the dough, blend 1
cup of rolled oats in a food processor to make a rough flour. Add coconut
sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and pulse to mix. Next add the coconut
oil, chia-rooibos gel, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pulse to mix until the
mixture forms a ball. Turn out onto a sheet of plastic wrap, cover tightly and
place in the fridge to chill for at least one hour (this can be done a day
ahead if desired).
3. To make filling, roughly
chop figs and place them in a small saucepan with ½ cup brewed tea, lemon
juice, salt and scraped vanilla seeds, including the pod. Cook over
low-medium heat until the figs start to break down and the mixture thickens
(about 10-15 minutes). Add more tea or water if necessary. Let cool slightly,
remove vanilla pod, then blend in a food processor. You can make the filling as
smooth or chunky as you like. The filling can also be made in advance, if
desired.
4. Remove dough from fridge,
place on a piece of parchment paper and lay another sheet on top. Using a
rolling pin, roll dough out until the dough is a little larger than 4.5” x 20”
To make a rectangle trim off any excess dough around the sides. Spoon fig
filling along the center, then fold in both sides and press lightly to seal.
Cut 20-24 pieces out and place each one, seam-side down on a parchment-lined
baking sheet.
5. Bake cookies in a 350°F oven for
about 20 minutes. Remove and let cool completely. Enjoy.
