Ingredients
-
1/3 cup vegetable shortening, I use butter or 1/3 cup margarine
-
1 cup packed brown sugar
-
2 eggs
-
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
-
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-
2 teaspoons baking powder
-
1 teaspoon orange zest
-
1 pinch salt
-
-
1 (8 ounce) package dried figs, stems removed (can sub dates if you wish, but the figs are supreme)
-
2/3 cup water
-
3 tablespoons lemon juice or 3 tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, beat together shortening, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until creamy.
- Add all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, orange peel and salt, beating until blended.
- Refrigerate dough 1 to 2 hours.
- Prepare fig filling and set aside, see below.
- On a floured surface, roll dough into 14 inch square.
- Cut dough into 4 equal strips, each 14 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide.
- Spoon 1/4 of fig filling in a 1 1/2 inch wide mound down center of each strip.
- Using a long spatula, lift sides of each dough strip over filling, overlapping slightly on top.
- Press edges together to seal.
- Cut strips crosswise in half for ease of handling.
- Place, seam side down, 3 inches apart on greased baking sheets.
- Brush off any excess flour.
- Cut each strip into 7 (1 inch) crosswise pieces, but do not separate.
- Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until puffed and firm to the touch.
- Cool 5 to 10 minutes on baking sheets; then cut apart and remove to racks to cool completely.
- Fig Filling.
- In a medium saucepan, combine figs, water, lemon or orange juice and granulated sugar.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat and simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally; cool.