On Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees,” we celebrate the natural world through the Seven Species of Israel: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. These ingredients have long symbolized abundance, resilience, and the agricultural roots of Jewish tradition.
These fig and date cookies bring several of the Seven Species directly into the mix. Flour (wheat) forms the dough, while figs and dates contribute to the chewy texture. The recipe also includes honey, a natural sweetener, well-connected to the phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Almonds, while not one of the Seven Species, are a nod to the almond trees that signal the coming of spring in Israel.
These cookies offer a sweet way to connect with the land, the holiday, and the symbolism of the Seven Species.
Chag Sameach!
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Fig and Date Cookies
Yield: 18 cookies
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup all‑purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon cardamom
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped pitted dates
½ cup chopped dried figs
⅓ cup sliced almonds
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the melted butter, brown sugar, and honey. Whisk to combine. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Whisk again to combine.
Add the oats, flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt. Still until evenly incorporated, and no dry spots remain.
Stir in the dates, figs, and almonds until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Drop by 2 Tablespoons (or a #30 cookie scoop) onto the lined baking sheets. Using a rubber spatula or your palm, flatten slightly.
Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until edges of cookies are slightly golden brown.
Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container for 5-7 days.
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Glendale resident Pam Stein is a Chronicle food writer, known to thousands of online followers as the voice of In Pam’s Kitchen. For more recipes and ideas, follow @inpamskitchen on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok.
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