Parker is getting a special treat in his lunch today — cookies!
And he has the Food Network to thank for it.
My contribution to the network’s Virtual Cookie Swap just had to land in his lunch. So today, you — and he — can enjoy one of my favorite cookies. Be sure to check out the other cookie ideas at the bottom of the post.
Ginger Fig Crumb Bars
These bars are buttery, fruity and ever-so-slightly cakey. The dried apricots and figs produce a thick, rich filling, while the ginger and pine nuts lend warm and nutty flavors to the crumb topping. Just about any dried fruit can be substituted for the figs.
How long? 40 minutes (15 minutes active)
How much? 9 servings
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup cornmeal
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into small chunks
½ pound dried apricots
½ pound dried figs
¼ cup crystallized ginger (also called candied ginger)
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
¼ cup pine nuts
Heat the oven to 350˚F.
In a food processor, combine the flour, cornmeal and sugar. Pulse several times to combine. Add the butter, then pulse until the ingredients form a wet, sandy mixture, about 15 seconds.
Transfer three-quarters of the mixture to a 9-by-9-inch pan and use a flat-bottomed cup or glass to press it evenly across the bottom. Set the remaining flour mixture aside in a small bowl.
In the food processor, combine the apricots, figs, ginger and water and process until the fruit forms a thick jam, about 15 seconds.
Using a silicone spatula or large spoon, spread the fruit mixture evenly over the dough in the pan.
Mix the brown sugar into the remaining flour mixture, then crumble it evenly over the fruit. Scatter pine nuts over the dough and press lightly into the surface.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until the edges and pine nuts just begin to brown. Cool before serving. Cut into 9 squares.
MORE COOKIES:
All You Magazine: White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Oprah.com: Sugar Cookies
Gilt Taste: Milk Bar Holiday Cookies
Liquor.com: Drink in the Holidays
Cooking Light: Iced Sugar Cookies
MyRecipes.com: Ultimate Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Food52: Ginger Spiced Molasses Sugar Cookies
Cooking Channel: The White House’s Molasses Spice Cookies “Gingersnaps”
BlogHer: Triple Chocolate Almond Cookies
CafeMom: Marvelous Mini Apple Crisp Cookies
The Daily Meal: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Food Republic: Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
EatingWell: 5 Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Cookies
Redbook Magazine: Candy Cane Cookies
Gourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies
AP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb Bars
Fox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
Epicurious: Italian Almond Cookies
Big Girls Small Kitchen: Cowboy Cookies
FN Dish: Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip-Bacon Cookies
[...] Magazine: Candy Cane Cookies Gourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies AP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb Bars Fox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies Epicurious: Italian Almond Cookies Big Girls Small [...]
[...] Magazine: Candy Cane Cookies Gourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies AP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb Bars Fox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies Epicurious: Italian Almond Cookies Big Girls Small [...]
[...] Magazine: Candy Cane Cookies Gourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies AP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb Bars Fox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies Epicurious: Italian Almond Cookies Big Girls Small [...]
mmm… these sound lovely. Ginger fig is one of my favorite combinations, and my favorite scent for soap!
So good and so easy. But not very soapy!
thank goodness for that! soap + food = not good.
When I was in the army, I was served a meal at the mess hall and clearly, something hadn’t been rinsed properly. Soap-flavored chili is a very bad thing.
Uck!!!
yeah,it was THAT bad. I started going to a different mess hall after that.
[...] Magazine: Candy Cane Cookies Gourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies AP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb Bars Fox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies Epicurious: Italian Almond Cookies Big Girls Small [...]
[...] Magazine: Candy Cane CookiesGourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox CookiesAP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb BarsFox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal CookiesEpicurious: Italian Almond CookiesBig Girls Small [...]
Did you & Parker pick a Holiday winner? Did I miss it?
Not yet. I still haven’t heard back from a few of the daily winners. Don’t want to award the book to somebody I can’t send it to. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
[...] Magazine: Candy Cane Cookies Gourmet Live: Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies AP/ J.M. Hirsch: Ginger Fig Crumb Bars Fox News: White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies Epicurious: Italian Almond Cookies Big Girls [...]