Fig Rolls were something I hadn't made since I was a teenager, and they popped into my head one day when I was painting a pair of figs. But I didn't want to "waste" my fresh figs on a recipe that is best made with dried figs, so it went on the backburner for a while.
In recent months, during "all this" (and that's all I'm going to say about the pan*em*c), many grocery items have been hard to find. I was so happy to get my hands on some lovely organic soft dried figs last week, so at last, fig rolls.
So many recipes out there have grossly mismatched amounts of dough and filling. What's the point of having massive amounts of filling left over? My recipe uses all the filling, and I make three round cookies out of the pastry trimmings, so there's no waste.
My dough recipe is adapted from Paul Hollywood's, but I was on my own for the filling because his and so many other recipes make too much for the amount of dough and are not to my taste in one way or another
If you're used to Fig Newtons, you'll find these are not quite as sweet (and they have no corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, unhealthy oils or additives). A trivia question for you: Were Fig Newtons named after a) Sir Isaac Newton, b) another person named Newton, c) a town in Massachusetts?
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Fig Rolls - Fig Newtons
(Makes 12)
The Dough
1 1/4 dip-and-sweep cups (6.25 ounces/177 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon non-GMO baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (2 ounces/57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
3 firmly packed tablespoons (1.31 ounces/37 grams) dark brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten (medium in UK)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
The Filling
3/4 packed cup (5 ounces/142 grams) coarsely chopped soft dried figs
1 firmly packed tablespoon (0.44 ounces/12 grams) dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/3 cup (2.67 fluid ounces/79 ml) water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
2 In medium mixing bowl with electric hand mixer, cream butter and brown sugar well, about 2 minutes. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until combined; it will look curdled.
3 On low speed, add the flour mixture in two or three batches until thoroughly combined. Scrape dough out onto a square of plastic wrap (clingfilm), forming it into a smooth square as you wrap it. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
4 Make the filling. In a 1-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring chopped figs, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover (lid slightly ajar) and simmer for 10 minutes, until mixture is thick and water is absorbed. Transfer* to a 2-cup glass measure, use an immersion blender to make a paste, stir in lemon juice, and let cool.
* The mixture will not be sufficiently deep even in the small saucepan to use the immersion blender, so you need to transfer it to a deeper, narrower container, such as the 2-cup glass measure.
5 Preheat oven to 375F/190C/Gas5. On a lightly floured piece of baking parchment paper, roll out chilled dough to a rectangle over 10x8 inches (25x20 cm) and 1/8 inch (1/3 cm) thick. Trim* rectangle to 10x8 inches (25x20 cm). Cut in half lengthwise to make two 10x4-inch (25x10 cm) strips of dough. Also, cut the parchment paper in half because you'll be using it to help you fold over the dough after filling.
* I save the trimmings and make them into 3 round cookies.
6 Spread half the fig filling down the center of each dough strip and carefully fold in one side of the dough, using the parchment to help you; run a wet finger over the edge of the dough over the filling. Using the parchment, fold over the other side of the dough, overlapping the first side a bit and pressing to seal. Turn the two logs over, seam-side down. Trim the ends and cut each into 6 equal slices. Place them on the baking sheet on their parchment. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Note: Before trimming the ends and cutting the slices, you can press the two logs down a bit to make a flat top, as I do, or leave them round as some do.
Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support.
Jean
FAQs
The Kennedy Biscuit Company had recently become associated with the New York Biscuit Company, and the two merged to form Nabisco—after which, the fig rolls were trademarked as "Fig Newtons". Since 2012, the "Fig" has been dropped from the product name (now just "Newtons").
Why do Americans call fig rolls fig Newtons? ›
Kennedy Biscuit Company had recently become associated with the New York Biscuit Company, and after merger to form Nabisco, trademarked the product as the Fig Newton. The cookie was named after the Massachusetts town of Newton. It was one of the first commercially-produced baked goods in the United States.
Are fig newtons made with real figs? ›
The label lists flour, figs, sugar, corn syrup, vegetable oil, salt, corn fiber, oat fiber, baking soda, calcium lactate, malic acid, soy lecithin, sodium Benzoate, and sulfur dioxide. There is no dairy in there or any animal based products, so, yes, Fig Newtons are vegan. However, Fig Newtons are not gluten-free.
Are Fig Newtons actually healthy? ›
Fig Newton Cookies
They are also fairly healthy. Figs are well known for having fiber, which helps with digestion, as well as protein and several vitamins and minerals. This means there are quite a few health benefits of fig bars like fig Newtons.
What do Americans call fig rolls? ›
Fig Roll
Description: A soft, sweet roll with fig paste in the middle. American equivalent: Essentially a Fig Newton, the cookie nobody in America cares about. My thoughts: “I'm in the mood for a Fig Roll,” said no one ever.
Which came first fig rolls or fig Newtons? ›
Fig rolls became a popular food item as a result and in 1891 Charles Roser invented a machine to insert fig paste into dough. After several business deals, the fig roll became a product of Nabisco and the name was changed to “Fig Newton”. So go on and get figgy with it.
Who made the original fig rolls? ›
Fig roll biscuit origin and history
Charles Roser, in 1892, was awarded a patent for a machine which inserted fig creme into a cake-like dough: classical fig rolls are encased in a more pastry-like covering, creating a chewy experience.
What is the most popular cookie in the United States? ›
Chocolate chip cookies
What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one. Ever the crowd-pleaser, the chocolate chip cookie is renowned for its balance of richness and sweetness.
Why are fig newtons hard to find? ›
In 2012, Nabisco, which is now a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, decided to drop the "Fig" in "Fig Newton." This isn't the first time Newtons have undergone an identity crisis.
Are fig newtons good for constipation? ›
Try high fiber snack foods such as sesame bread sticks, date-nut or prune bread, oatmeal cookies, fig newtons, date or raisin bars, granola and corn chips. Try natural “laxative-type” foods- bran, whole grain cereals, and prune juice.
In 1891, they produced the first Fig Newtons baked at the F.A. Kennedy Steam Bakery. The company named the pastries after the town of Newton, Massachusetts. After recently becoming associated, the Kennedy Biscuit Company and the New York Biscuit company merged to form Nabisco.
Can too many fig newtons cause diarrhea? ›
Since figs have a high fiber content, eating too many figs — especially dried figs — can cause diarrhea.
Do fig cookies help with constipation? ›
The high fiber content in figs aids in digestion and prevents constipation. Figs contain a digestive enzyme called "ficin," which helps with digestion as well.
Can dogs eat fig newtons? ›
Do not feed your dog Fig Newtons. These sugary cookies contain additional ingredients (especially sugar and spices) that are not healthy for dogs and, in large amounts, could be toxic. The figs used in these cookies also aren't fresh—so when it comes to sharing your treats, just say no to your dog's begging eyes.
Which came first fig rolls or fig newtons? ›
Fig rolls became a popular food item as a result and in 1891 Charles Roser invented a machine to insert fig paste into dough. After several business deals, the fig roll became a product of Nabisco and the name was changed to “Fig Newton”. So go on and get figgy with it.
What do the British call fig newtons? ›
Biscuit question : I understand why I'm the UK a fig roll is called a fig roll ... it's figs in a roll of pastry\ biscuit ... but why is it a “fig Newton” in The U.S. of Stateside ?
What's in a fig roll? ›
Product Description. Baked pastry with a fig paste filling. SOFT & FRUITY Soft baked pastry packed with richly sweet figs.
How much fig is in a fig roll? ›
INGREDIENTS:Fig (32%), Fortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Sugar, Palm Oil, Glucose Syrup, Partially Inverted Refiners Syrup, Whey Powder (Cows' Milk), Salt, Raising Agents: Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Ammonium Bicarbonate; Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid.
