"adult” fig newtons
for
the fig filling:
16 oz. dried black mission figs, stems
removed and chopped into small bits
1 cup water
¼ cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
for
the dough:
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/3 cup almond milk
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ¾ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
turbinado sugar, for topping
start by making the
filling. in a small saucepan, throw in the chopped figs, water, agave, and
citrus. bring to a boil over medium heat, and reduce to a simmer. stirring
every minute of so, cook for a good 10 minutes, until figs begin to soften. let
them continue to cook, but mash them with a fork or masher (?!) to create a
chunky paste. the water will evaporate in the process – if it gets too dry, add
in more water, a tablespoon at a time. remove from heat and set aside. you can
leave your figs chunky, or if you want a smoother puree, throw it in the food
processor (i prefer chunky!).
line an 8 x 8
square baking tin with aluminum foil so that the foil hangs over the sides of
the pan. spray the foil with a bit of non-stick cooking spray.
now, it’s time for
the dough. in a large mixing bowl, combine the chia seeds, almond milk, oil,
sugar, and vanilla. whisk for a good 2 minutes to make sure it’s combined. in a
small mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. add dry
to wet mixes, a bit at a time, stirring constantly. stir to form a soft dough.
using your hands, form the dough into a ball and then divide into two equal
parts. shape each section of the dough into a small square about an inch thick.
take the first two
square and place it between two large sheets of wax paper. using a rolling pin,
roll the dough into a larger square (or square-like shape) about the size of
the 8 x 8 pan. if it is slightly larger, that’s ok too.
when you have your
square shape, peel off the top layer of wax paper. flip the dough directly onto
the pan. push it into pan. this will help to peel off the top wax paper layer,
which you should do… now! when the dough is firmly in place, spread the fig
filling all over.* don’t forget the corners!
using the same
method as with the bottom crust, prepare the top crust. flip the crust on top
of the fig mixture, press down firmly so it sticks, and peal the wax paper
away.
bake for around 20
minutes, or until the crust is slightly golden and puffed. remove from oven and
let cool. when cool, grab the edges of the tin foil and remove the cookie block
from the pan, placing it on a cutting board. cut into bars of any size. enjoy,
and then store in a sealed container.
*note: i used about
¾ of it the fig mixture here and reserved the rest for another recipe.
oh heavens BETSY what I would do to be one of your classmates!
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