Homemade Fig Bars

What pre-packaged treat do you most remember your mother buying you as a child? Graham crackers? Chocolate chip cookies? Gingersnaps? Oreos? In my house, it was Fig Newtons. I think my mother assumed the fig center made them a more sensible choice than the other options at the grocery. While my mom usually baked her own delicious cookies, but I don't think she ever tried her hand at homemade Newtons. Even when I started thinking about making a healthier, less sugar-filled, homemade version of Newtons I was a bit intimidated. It just didn't seem like a recipe that would be easy to pull off in a home kitchen.

Well, I was wrong. Totally wrong. In fact, in the same amount of time it takes to make a simple batch of chocolate chip cookies, I made these decadently rich bars, filled with sweet fig and tucked inside a tender whole wheat cookie. Both of my kids agreed they were superior to the store bought Fig Newtons they had tried at a friend's house -- they couldn't keep their mitts out of the tin I put them in.

Ingredients

• 1 cup roughly chopped dried figs, stems removed
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the figs in a small bowl, cover with hot water, and soak for 10 minutes. 
3. Remove the figs from the water with a slotted spoon and place in the bowl of a food processor. Add the honey and 1 tablespoon of the soaking liquid. Puree until smooth and spreadable. 
4. In the bowl of a standing mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 2 minutes, or until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated. 
5. Add the flour and mix until a dough forms.
6. ..................................

For full instructions please see : weelicious.com

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