You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But you can’t deny their popularity. Fig Newtons have remained a much-loved pastry for over a century, so no wonder they get their own day. January 16 is National Fig Newton Day and we know you can’t wait to enjoy a few in celebration. Fig Newtons came into existence when, in the 19th century, physicians began to promote an increase in biscuits and fruit in one’s diet as a remedy for digestive problems. Fig rolls became a popular food item as a result and in 1891 Charles Roser invented a machine to insert fig paste into dough. After several business deals, the fig roll became a product of Nabisco and the name was changed to “Fig Newton”. So go on and get figgy with it.
National Fig Newton Day timeline
William Moore bought eight bakeries to establish the New York Biscuit Company.
By merging 40 bakeries, Adolphus Green started the American Biscuit Company
The first Fig Newtons were baked at the F.A. Kennedy Steam Bakery.
Moore and Green came together to create the National Biscuit Company, or N.B.C.
National Fig Newton Day Activities
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Make your own fig rolls
You’ve had store-bought Fig Newtons. Why not try making your own? They are fairly simple to make and various recipes can be found all over the internet. You just need the standard baking ingredients found in every kitchen and some figs!
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Make a Fig Newton cake or pie!
Don’t stop with Fig Newtons. Keep your baking supplies out and whip up a Fig Newton cake or pie crust. There are plenty of amazing recipes for cakes made of Fig Newtons. There are also several recipes for Fig Newton pie crust! It’s amazing with pumpkin pie, which is a good thing to perfect with fall coming!
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Eat up!
You’ve made (or bought, which is equally as okay and delicious) all these amazing sweets, so eat them! Invite friends over or share with your family. Or eat it all yourself; no one will judge you. Except maybe your cat. But cat’s judge us all the time. Cats will be cats.
Why We Love National Fig Newton Day
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They’re a classic
Classics are classics for a reason. We still enjoy this figgy cookies because they’re genuinely delicious. But because of how long they’ve been around, they can give us a nostalgic feeling as well. Maybe you have a particular memory attached to them, like your father enjoying morning coffee and some Fig Newtons as he reads the paper. We love classic foods and Fig Newtons are one of those that we can’t get enough of.
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We like to think we’re being healthy
Yeah, Fig Newtons are technically a cookie, but it’s got figs in it…so it’s healthy…right? We’re all guilty of this type of thinking from time to time. We feel guilty for cheating on our diets or eating more sweets than we should. Should you be eating packs of Fig Newtons every day? Maybe not. But are they perfectly fine in moderation? Absolutely!
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They go great with coffee and tea
Have you ever had a Fig Newton with a hot cup of tea or coffee? If you haven’t, you probably have not enjoyed Fig Newtons to their full potential. They are great in the morning with coffee and are easy to take on the go. Afternoon tea? Fig Newtons are the perfect snack to accompany your warm drink. Other warm drinks, like hot cider, go great with them as well. They are a great combination, especially during this chilly time of year.
National Fig Newton Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
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2023 | January 16 | Monday |
2024 | January 16 | Tuesday |
2025 | January 16 | Thursday |
2026 | January 16 | Friday |
2027 | January 16 | Saturday |