No Bake Fig Newtons

To start, I would like to reiterate that I spend a lot of time enforcing the importance of nutrition with whole foods designed for optimal body function. I do not use The Cutie Foodie to promote calorie-counting or weight loss, only feeding your individual body and soul with whatever makes you happy! 

With that being said, today I took this concept to a new level by making a copycat Fig Newton cookie. This was a treat I loved as a kid (and debatably do even more as an adult), but allergens include wheat, soy, and milk…three things that do not agree with my gut. Just a gander at this ingredient list, too.

“INGREDIENTS: FIGS, WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE \{VITAMIN B1\}, RIBOFLAVIN \{VITAMIN B2\}, FOLIC ACID), CORN SYRUP, INVERT SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, PALM OIL, SALT, BAKING SODA, CALCIUM LACTATE, MALIC ACID, SOY LECITHIN, SODIUM BENZOATE AND SULFUR DIOXIDE (SULFITES) ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.\PAR } CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY.”*

The side-by-side comparison between what I made versus what’s inside that little processed package is mind-blowing. You’ll see shortly how a few fresh, wholesome ingredients are a lot tastier than heaps of detrimental chemicals we both can’t pronounce, not to mention making something yourself is much more rewarding. Naturally, I couldn’t stop at a no bake recipe—these cookies are also gluten- refined sugar-, and dairy-free as well as vegan!

Be sure you allot enough time for this recipe! You will need a minimum of two hours and 30 minutes.

Crust Ingredients:

3/4 c almonds

3/4 c walnuts

1.5 c gluten-free oats

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

1/3 c sweetener of choice (maple syrup, honey, agave)

2 tbsp orange juice

Filling Ingredients: 

1.5 c dried figs

warm water

1 tbsp orange juice

1 tbsp sweetener of choice (maple syrup, honey, agave)

cinnamon to taste

pinch of salt

Crust Directions:

1. Soak your dried figs in warm water for at least 30 minutes. Be sure the water fully covers the figs.
2. Blend your almonds, walnuts, and oats into a flour.
3. In a large bowl, combine your flours, oil, sweetener and orange juice. Mix well until you get the consistency of a dough. 
4. Spread your dough onto wax paper until your crust is about a half-inch thick. 
5. Refrigerate the crust while you make the filling.

Filling Directions:

1. Drain figs and place in blender with all other ingredients.
2. Blend until you reach your desired consistency. Ideally, blend until slightly chunky, not completely smooth.
3. Remove crust from refrigerator and cut down the middle to make two rectangles. Be sure to cut your crust hotdog-, not hamburger-style. (You are making two cookie ‘logs.’)
4. Place half the filling down the center of each rectangle, leaving 1/4-1/2 inches of crust on each side of the filling.
5. Using the wax paper to help guide you, roll each rectangle towards the middle until the two sides meet. Your finished product will resemble a log.
6. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
7. Cut log into 1-inch pieces. You should have 20-30 fig newtons.
8. Enjoy!

For ideal freshness and texture, keep cookies refrigerated. If stored this way (and as long as you don’t eat them all in two sittings like I did) they can last for up to one month!

*Retrieved from https://www.foodservice-snacks-desserts.com/productpage?p=6024&brand=NEWTONS.