A healthy twist on the classic fig newton cookies, your entire family will love these no-bake fig newton bites that are naturally gluten-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly. The perfect on-the-go snack for an energy boost!
We were never a big dessert family growing up. Perhaps this explains my lack of a sweet tooth as an adult! One item that would appear in the pantry from time to time was fig newtons, which upon further inspection, have over 25 ingredients! All the more reason to switch to my 5-Ingredient No Bake Fig Newton Bites. This delicious and healthy snack doesn’t require you to turn on the oven and is jam-packed with sweet fig flavor.
Ingredients
- Dried figs: Naturally sweet and chewy, and guilt free as they are chalk full of fiber, calcium, iron, and other vitamins.
- Walnuts: High in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which adds to the filling nature of these snacks, while remaining low in calories.
- Flax seed meal: Flavorless, but full of additional nutrients like more omega 3s, fiber, and potassium.
- Vanilla extract: Ties the flavors together with an additional touch of sweetness.
- Salt: Balance in all things, a little salt is needed even in sweet dishes.
How to Make 5-Ingredient No Bake Fig Newton Bites
Start your fig newton bites by cutting up your dried figs and making sure you remove the hard stems.
Then add the dried figs to a food processor.
And add in the halved walnuts, then give it a couple pulses to start blending them together.
Once the figs and walntus have started to break down, add in the flax seed meal and salt.
Then finish with the vanilla extract.
Continue pulsing until ingredients are all mixed and the figs and walnuts are broken into small pieces.
Then using your hands or a small ice scream scoop or cookie dough scoop, roll the mixure into small balls.
Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate before serving. Then enjoy your 5-Ingredient No Bake Fig Newton Bites!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there a nut free option to these?
Unfortunately not. The oils in the walnuts help bind the balls, similar to peanut butter in other energy ball recipes. If you have a suggestion I’m all ears.
How long are fig newton bites good for?
These fig newtons can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Should you soak dried figs before eating?
You don’t need to! And actually, I recommend you don’t for this recipe. You can reconsitute figs by soaking though.
More Quick Snacks
- High Protein Homemade Granola
- Baked Pita Chips with Za’atar
- Avocado Toast with Cottage Cheese and Tomatoes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips
- Tomato Caprese Skewers with Pesto
Eat It, Like It, Share It!
Did you try this recipe and like it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.
Full of flavor as well as protein, these 5-Ingredient No Bake Fig Newton Bites will keep you energized and full all morning or afternoon long.
No forks required.
5-Ingredient No Bake Fig Newton Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried figs (hard stems removed)
- 1 cup walnuts halves
- ¼ cup flax seed meal
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large food processor and pulse until finely chopped, almost the consistency of sand. This may take 4-5 minutes. Remove blade and put aside.
- Scoop mixture out one at a time using a small ice cream scoop. Form mixture into balls by rolling in between your hands.
- Enjoy room temperature or refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to 7 days.
Sunflower butter worked great!
So glad to hear it!
What did.you substitute for it?
Thank you for the recipe. Could I use pecans, or other nuts, instead of walnuts?
Oh yes any type works!
WOW. These are delish- my kids love them. Followed recipe to a “T” but used my Vitamex and it worked perfect.
So happy you enjoyed Jennifer!
Had very high hopes for this recipe and it just exceeded them. So delicious
Ahh that makes me so happy!!
how do you make the no bake fig snack with fresh figs?
I have never done that I’m afraid!
Considering that fresh figs would probably have more moisture, if needed, I might add some kind of compatible powder, such as coconut powder, MCT powder, almond powder, or butter powder, or even collagen powder, perhaps one tablespoon at a time until it feels right and will make a ball. I would like that it wouldn’t be as sweet as with dried figs.
Great idea!
I mean Vitamix
can i make these in my vitamin instead of food processor? I don’t have a food processor sadly
I would not recommend it to be honest.
My daughter has a nut-allergy’s & seeds are a great replacement…i plan to try your recipe with pumpkin seeds when she wakes up! Yum. Sunflower seeds would work.
Oh that’s a GREAT idea! Report back ok?
I’m totally making these first thing in the morning! I bought dried figs for Christmas cookies and never made them. Anyway. A suggestion for omitting the walnuts. What about sunflower seeds? They make sunflower seed butter as a replacement for peanut butter. And it’s yummy! Maybe even just use a couple tablespoons of the Sunbutter?
That should work! Let me know!! Did you try it?
I found a recipe that makes me look forward to eating figs. I can’t say I really ever liked them that much before. However, I found this recipe after buying a large quantity of them at Costco’s. I wondered what to do with all of them. Now I know. I made a small batch to test this recipe. Now it’s safe to make a larger one. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear this!
Just made the fig balls this morning. I let them blend in the food processor full speed once I pulsed it a few times. They were yummy. I was looking for a way to enjoy figs. I wanted their health benefits, but wasn’t too keen on just eating a fig. This recipe will help me eat my big bag of figs quickly! And I needed to eat more omega 3 fatty acids. The walnuts and flaxseed fill that need too. Thanks for a great recipe!
I’m so glad you found this recipe and enjoyed it!
Oh my gosh, so……delicious. I was looking for something to do with the dried figs other than eating them out of the bag. I found your recipe and had everything I needed. Not quite enough figs, so I added dried dates. Definitely will have this to satisfy my sweet tooth. Will be trying some of your other recipes too. Thanks!
That makes me so happy Judy! So glad!
These are delicious and do easy to make ????????
I’m so glad!
Could I replace flax with poppy seeds?
Oh yes great idea!
I have fresh figs from my backyard. Can I use fresh and how much?
This recipe is for dried figs. :)
Having a hard time finding any dried fig. What else is good ?
I followed the directions using fresh figs and oats. I’ve now tripled the oats and there’s no way these will roll up. They’re way to wet. Mush.
Hi Dana!
The recipe calls for dried figs not fresh. :) I would never use fresh figs for this recipe – instead I would stuff them with goat cheese and drizzle with honey.
No fig newtons. That’s it, next you
Will tell me the tooth ferrie is gone
I’ve lived too long. I tried your cookies
And they are good. I did soak some of them in a dry sherry. Now I’m hooked
Thanks
Oooo love that Idea!
Easy, quick and tasty. Next time, I will add a bit of shredded coconut. Thank you.
Great idea!
What can I use instead of flaxseed meal?
Chia seeds?
These are fantastic! Fig Newtons are definitely one of my childhood favorites, and I never thought I could recreate their ‘essence’ so easily – thank you!
Yes!! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!
These are AMAZING! I plan on these for my goto snack for the week. Thanks so much for posting!
I am so glad you like them!!!
could I use fresh figs? Our tree is overloaded and these sound incredible! I don’t have a dehydrator to dehydrate them first
Yes absolutely!!!
Penny,
If the birds don’t get to them first leave your ripe figs on the tree for a couple of extra days and they dry on the vine. When Im at fig capacity that’s what I do then later pick dried figs ready for snacking or storage.
I am trying to make these now and it seems like a whole lot of figs. 3 cups?!?! Anyway, I have been pulsing my food processor and mixing in a bowl all of the ingredients and it seems to be all fig. Am I doing something wrong?
No that is correct… it should definitely have a strong fig flavor as it is supposed to taste like a fig newton. Feel free to get creative though and change up the ratios!