A new feature on this blog: Guilty Pleasures, featuring food and drink that isn’t necessarily good for you, but are certainly good. To me, anyway.

To kick things off: Fig Newtons!

Anyone who grew up in the 80’s should remember Nabisco’s slogan for these little fig-jam-filled cakes: A cookie is just a cookie, but a Newton is fruit and cake. Ooh, yes- that must explain why it’s definitely one of my Guilty Pleasures. I’ve always been more a cake person than a cookie.

Originally named “fig in the roll” (I kid you not), Newtons come in Strawberry and Raspberry flavors too (which, ew)- and are also available in mini sizes, for extremely guilty snacking. Finally, I leave you with a recipe for homemade fig bars:

Make Your Own Fig Newtons
(source: Recipezaar

1 pound dried figs
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 3/4 cups flour

Dice figs, soak in water 1 hour. Add sugar & cook on medium heat until the consistency of thin jam.

In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, egg, milk & vanilla until well blended. To this, add your dry ingredients. Mix well and transfer to the refrigerator for about an hour.

Place 1/2 of the dough on well floured board or dough cloth; knead about 6 times. Roll out to 1/4″ thick. Line 13 x 9″ glass baking dish; cover with figs.

Roll out remaining dough, cover figs with this. Cook at 350° for 30 minutes.

Let cool and cut into squares. Depending on the size you cut you can get a couple dozen cookies.