Fig & Black Tea Newton Bars-Makes one 9×13 pan (about 16–20 bars)

Ingredients

Dough

• 2¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Zest of 1 orange (optional but highly recommended)

Filling

• 1½–2 cups Quince & Apple Company Fig & Black Tea Conserve

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
   Line a 9×13 pan with parchment, leaving overhang for easy removal.

2. Make the dough

   • Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

   • In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

   • Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla and orange zest.

   • Slowly mix in dry ingredients until just combined.

   • Dough will be soft but spreadable.

3. Assemble the bars

   • Press ⅔ of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

   • Spread the Fig & Black Tea Conserve evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.

   • Drop remaining dough in small pieces over the top and gently spread (it doesn’t need to fully cover—rustic is great).

4. Bake

   • Bake for 28–35 minutes, until lightly golden and set in the center.

5. Cool & slice

   • Cool completely in the pan.

   • Lift out using parchment and slice into bars.

Optional Finishing Touches

• Light dusting of powdered sugar

• Orange glaze (powdered sugar + fresh orange juice)

• Sprinkle of turbinado sugar before baking for crunch