Product

• Fig Newtons are a cookie that was inspired by ancient fig roll pastries. At the center of every Fig Newton is a layer of gooey fig jam. The fig filling inside of Fig Newtons boasts the sweetness of fresh figs and features an interesting thick and slightly chewy texture that is given a satisfying crunch due to the fig seeds. This layer of fig is blanketed by a soft, shortbread-like cookie.
  
  

Nutrition

• While still a dessert, Fig Newtons tend to be slightly more healthy than other cookies. One serving, or two Fig Newtons, has about 110 calories, 20 of which are from fat. Each serving also has about 2 g of fat, which is about 3 percent of a person's recommended daily value, based on a diet of 2,000 calories. Two Fig Newtons hold about 12 g of sugar and 1 g of dietary fiber.
  
  

History

• In 1891, baker James Henry Mitchell designed a machine, essentially a small funnel within a larger funnel, that allowed for the creation of a cake-like cookie dough to be filled with fruit jam. Mitchell shipped one of his machines to a bakery in Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. The cookie, which impressed the bakers, was named after Newton, Massachusetts, a nearby suburb of Boston. While the company's name shifted from Kennedy Biscuit works to the National Biscuit Company and is now known as Nabisco, Fig Newtons today remain unchanged from their conception, which took place over a century ago.
  
  

Other Variations

• Along with selling traditional Fig Newtons, Nabisco now markets a variety of "Newton" cookies. Fat-free Fig Newtons provide a healthier option for snackers who are watching their waistlines. Those who are not crazy about the fig flavor in Fig Newtons may be more impressed by the fruity flavor of Strawberry Newtons or Raspberry Newtons. Fig Newtons can be found in a variety of packages, from single servings which are ideal for a school lunch to tiny sized Newton Minis.