Happy Fig Newton Day ! Recipe and memories

It’s National Fig Newton Day ! And to celebrate I am sharing a recipe for a quick and easy fig bar made with Dad’s figs. ( don’t have a jar ) -then you can make your own fig mixture.

• 1 pouch Betty C rocker Sugar Dough mix
• 1/2 C Cold butter
• 2 3/4 C dried figs (cleaned)
• 3/4 C warm water
• 1/4 C honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp lemon peel
• 1/2 C chopped Nuts

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, place cookie mix. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mix in opposite directions), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool.
• Meanwhile, place figs and warm water in food processor. Cover; process until smooth paste forms. Add syrup and lemon peel; process until well blended. Spread fig mixture evenly over partially baked crust. ( If you have fig preserves blend until smooth)
• In small bowl, mix reserved 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture and the walnuts. Sprinkle over fig mixture.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 30 minutes. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.