These Paleo Fig Newtons are easy, delicious, and healthy. Made with all real ingredients and sweetened only with fruit. Gluten free and vegan as well!
A classic made-over
Fig Newtons were one of my favorite cookies when I was younger. I know it’s a little weird, but I’d pick that over other cookies most the time. I always loved the filling- the slight crunch from the seeds and how it’s sweet and sticky. This homemade version is just as tasty, but with simpler ingredients. The filling is sweet, but not overly sweet. The almond flour outside is so much better than the store bought ones. It’s more moist, is grain free, naturally sweetened, and has a hint of applesauce. It is so good!
These are easy to make! The filling is blended in a food processor or blender in less than a minute and the outside cookie is mixed in a bowl with no mixer required. A mix of dried figs, lemon juice and a touch of cinnamon. It is pressed into a pan and baked and ready in about 30 minutes. So simple!
These aren't quite as sweet as the original, but they're not meant to be. If you're eating paleo then you will find them plenty sweet, if you're used to regular cookies you may think they're not sweet enough. It's all personal preference as well.
Making the fig newton crust
It does take a little time pressing the crust into the pan. Don't rush it! To get that top layer to cover the fig mixture, it's easiest to flatten small pieces out with your fingers then press it on top. Continue until it's all used then press to fill in any small holes. The proportions are also a little different than the store bought kind- the crust is thinner and the filling is thicker. It's a good change.
You will love these paleo fig newtons- made with all real ingredients that fir your dietary needs. Here are some more copycat recipes to try:
- Paleo Butterfinger Candy Bars
- Vegan Paleo Cosmic Brownies
- Paleo Vegan Samoa Cookies
- Oatmeal Cream Pies (paleo)
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Paleo Fig Newtons
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325° and line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
- Combine figs, lemon juice, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. It will be a thick mixture.
- In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, salt, cinnamon, and applesauce. Stir until fully combined and no lumps remain. Divide in half and press half of the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Top with fig mixture, spreading as evenly as possible.
- Top with remaining almond mixture. The best way to do that is to take small pieces and flatten with your fingers. Place on top of fig mixture and repeat until all almond mixture is used. Press any holes closed once all is on top.
- Bake for 30-32 minutes.
- Cool and cut into squares.
donna says
the best way I found to make the crust is to divide the dough and roll out each half between parchment paper, so the bottom half stays on the parchment paper you rolled it out on, goes into the 8 X 8 pan and then layer the top piece on after you spread the filling
Jessica DeMay says
Thanks for sharing this tip, Donna!
Sarah says
Can I use fresh figs? I have so many off our tree I don’t know what to do with them.
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Sarah- I haven't tried. I feel like another person commented about this before, maybe look through the comments and that may be more helpful. 🙂
Mary says
Awesomely delicious! So much better than the packaged ones. Thanks for posting.
Jessica DeMay says
You're welcome, Mary! Thanks for trying them and I'm so glad you like them!
Jill says
Is there a liquid that is more keto friendly that can be used in place of the applesauce? The filling would be great with low-carb berries!
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Jill- I would say a low carb sweetener (I'm not familiar with them) that is liquid for half and almond milk for half. That way you're getting the sweetness still. I think there are sugar free maple syrups. Hope that helps.
TOM MORAN says
could I put blueberries on these
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Tom- I think that would work. You mean in the filling or on top?
TOM MORAN says
In the filling
Jessica DeMay says
I think that would work.
Katy says
I only had a 2.25 qt baker availble so I used 3 cups almond flour, 1 cup coconut flour (because my brain read 2 T as 1/2 cup, duh!), about a cup and a half apple sauce (the extra 1/2 cup to make up for the added coconut flour)
For the filling I used about 15-20 fresh figs and boiled them with water Until soft and jammy, then pureaide (sound that out please, Autocorrect isn’t helping me out lol)... no citrus because I didn't have any.
Pretty anxious to see how they turn out... five minute left in the oven.
Thank you for the recipe. I’m awful at following them but appreciate the starting point!
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Katy- I'm curious to how they turned out. 1 cup of coconut flour is definitely too much and I'm thinking they came out dry. I hope they still are tasty!
Jack says
Why does it have applesauce and cinnamon in it? Does the original recipie have these ingredients? I don't want the extra sugar or the cinnamon.
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Jack- no applesauce isn't in the original. The original is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and corn syrup. Applesauce is the only sweetener in the cookie part- no maple syrup or coconut sugar. It's not extra sugar. Feel free to leave the cinnamon out, but I made these as a copycat and they taste just like them. If you're looking for a copycat with the exact same ingredients, then this isn't it. It's much healthier and lower in sugar.
Vicky Kamlani says
These were great!!! We changed the filling a little - added orange juice because we didn’t have lemons. Added water and maple syrup because the figs would not move in my blender. So good!!
Jessica DeMay says
Thanks for trying them, Vicky! I'm so glad you like them!
Cara says
Can these be made with fresh figs? My tree is overflowing!
Katie says
This recipe was amazing and super easy. It’s 5 year old and mom approved.
Jessica DeMay says
Thanks, Katie! I'm so glad you both loved them!
Simone says
Hi! I have a nut allergy, and was wondering if you had any success with other GF flour options? Thanks!
Jessica DeMay says
Hi Simone- I think sunflower seed flour would work great. You can make it yourself using raw seeds in a blender or buy it on Amazon, but it's much cheaper to make. Hope that helps!