It you like Fig Newtons—or wish you liked them more—there’s a better “Newton” in town. (The history of Fig Newtons and more Newton content follows below.

It’s called Figgies & Jammies and the cookies are from Pamela’s Products, maker of delicious gluten-free cookies, bars and mixes. The flavors include:

 
Filled with real Mission figs and complementary fruits, this gluten-free version of the traditional fig cookie is so delicious, even people who don’t prefer gluten-free foods will prefer them.

The pie-like cookie portion is more tender, the fruit flavors are brighter. The size is a bit larger than Fig Newtons.

The cookies are not just gluten free, but egg free, low in sodium and all natural. There are no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, no cholesterol, no corn syrup.

The line is certified gluten-free by GFCO and certified kosher (dairy) by OU (the hechsher is hidden under the fold of the seam).

You can find a store locator on the company website, or buy them online from Pamela’s.

Below:

> The history of Fig Newtons.

> Beyond Newtons: elevated brands of fig cookies.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of cookies.

> The year’s 44 cookie holidays. (National Fig Newton Day is January 16th.)

> The 10 basic styles of cookies (Fig Newton is in the “filled cookie” category).

> The different varieties of of cookies: a photo glossary.
 
 
FIG NEWTON HISTORY: WHY A “NEWTON?”

January 16th is National Fig Newton Day, honoring a cookie so anchored in 19th-century history that it was a favorite of our great-grandfather. And our family history, too: Great-grandfather was born in the same year as the Fig Newton.

The Fig Newton was named after the town of Newton, Massachusetts. It was the custom of the original manufacturer, Kennedy Biscuit Works of Cambridgeport (now Cambridge, Massachusetts), to name cookies after towns in the Boston area.

According to Nabisco, the cookie was co-invented in 1891:

 
The machine was patented in 1892, and Mitchell approached the Kennedy Biscuit Company to try it out. They were impressed—all that was needed was a name. Newton, Massachusetts got the honor (the Boston-based company often named their cookies after local towns, and had already produced cookies named Beacon Hill, Harvard, and Shrewsbury).

Just think: We could have Fig Lexingtons or Fig Concords instead!

In 1898, Kennedy Biscuit Works and New York Biscuit Company became part of the massive National Biscuit Company (later named Nabisco), leading to nationwide distribution and iconic status, with sales growing exponentially and the brand eventually diversifying beyond fig, though the original remains a classic.

In the 1980s, Nabisco launched additional flavors of Newton. Today you can revel in Newtons! Beyond Original Fig came Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Cherry, Mixed Berry, Strawberry, Triple Berry, and Raspberry, plus fig bars, fig cookies, and . Here’s the current lineup.

Given additional fruit flavors, in 2012, the brand became simply Newtons, with packages labeled by flavor.
 
 

[6] Turn a cookie snack into a full-blown dessert: Fig Newtons à la mode with caramel sauce.
 
 
FIG NEWTON ALTERNATIVES

[1] Yes, they’re better than Fig Newtons (photos #1 and #2 Elvira Kalviste | © The Nibble).

[2] Four figalicious flavors.

[3] Bake your own standard-gluten cookies with this recipe (photo © Ruffles And Trends).

[4] A sophisticated snack: Brie and sliced almonds atop a Fig Newton. Here’s the recipe (photos #4, #5, and #6 © Nabisco | Mondelez International)

[5] Now, they’re one of several flavors of Newtons.

Here are some brands that make elevated takes on Fig Newton‑style cookies or fig bars:

Shortbread or butter-cookie fig sandwiches: buttery and more indulgent than Newtons.
 

[7] Cuccidata, a Sicilian fig cookie. Here’s the recipe (photo © Taste Of Home).

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