Fig Newtons

​It seems that girl scouts have been lurking in front of every building that I go into lately.  As I innocently go about my day - running my errands around town, I'm suddenly confronted by troops of uniformed girls, armed with tantalizing sweets.   They're stationed at the grocery store, the drug store and even the post office.  This week, I was barely able to summon the strength to resist buying any more girl scout cookies at the grocery store when I turned the corner only to find another troop - poised and ready to hit me with their sales pitch in the Wal Mart parking lot.  All of this cookie temptation has proven to be more than I can handle this week.  I finally gave into my cravings and I baked a batch of cookies - healthy cookies.  I don't feel guilty about enjoying these sweet treats either because they're really pretty healthy. 

Fig Newtons
8 ounces chopped dates                         ¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup apple juice                                  2/3 cup brown sugar
1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour                   1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup flour                                                 10 Tablespoons butter
¼ cup wheat bran                                     1 egg
¼ teaspoon salt                                         ¼ cup applesauce

​Bring dates and apple juice to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

​Puree in food processor and cool.  Whisk together dry ingredients and gather remaining ingredients.

​Beat sugar, butter and zest in mixer for 1 minutes.  Add egg and mix 1 minute.

​Mix in dry ingredients in 3 batches alternating with applesauce.

​Divide dough in half.  Wrap in plastic wrap, flatten into rectangles and refrigerate 2 hours.

​Roll out dough between sheets of waxed paper to a 9 by 11 inch rectangle and trim edges.

​Cut rectangle in half.

​Spread1/2 of filling on one half.

​Place dough over filled half and transfer to baking sheet.  Refrigerate  20 minutes.

​Bake 20 minutes at 375 on let cool 5 minutes.

​Cut into 1 1/2” squares  and cool.   

Let's face it - the girl scouts are baking geniuses.    They've figured out how to make uber delicious cookies that are so addicting, we crave them all year.  There is only one thing that could make girl scout cookies more appealing - making them healthier.  These Fig Newtons are my healthy alternative to a girl scout cookie.

​I packed some of the cookies to take to the baseball game this week.  These pack (and freeze) really well.  So it's with confidence now that I run my errands around town.  I know that when the girl scouts are out and the cookie cravings start, I have my own cookies to indulge in and the best part is that they are healthier.  

​Ciao!

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