Description
An exceptional scratch-made copycat of classic Fig Newtons featuring a soft, cakey orange-scented pastry wrapped around a rich, no-cook Mission fig filling.
Ingredients
Cakey Cookie Dough:
10 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour, such as Gold Medal
5 ounces unsalted butter, soft but cool (65°F/18°C)
4 ounces light brown sugar, gently packed
1/2 plus 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 ounce honey
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
3 large egg yolks, straight from the fridge
No-Cook Fig Preserves:
12 ounces dried Mission figs, stems trimmed
3 1/2 ounces applesauce
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
Instructions
1. Cream the soft but cool unsalted butter, light brown sugar, baking soda, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon together until smooth.
2. Beat in the honey, orange zest, 1/2 ounce orange juice, and 3 cold egg yolks until the liquid is fully emulsified.
3. Stir in the all-purpose flour just until a soft dough forms; wrap in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
4. Process the dried Mission figs, applesauce, and 1 ounce orange juice in a food processor for 2 minutes until a smooth, thick paste forms.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C); roll chilled dough on a floured surface into a rectangle and cut into three long, equal strips.
6. Pipe the fig preserves down the center of each strip, fold the dough over to seal the logs, and place seam-side down on a parchment-lined sheet.
7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until pale golden, then transfer immediately to an airtight container to steam-soften as they cool; slice into bars.
Notes
Do not skip placing the hot baked logs directly into an airtight container, as the trapped steam is what creates the authentic soft texture. Use cool butter so the dough remains easy to handle.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 5g
- Protein: 2g