In the United States and Canada a cookie is a small, flat, baked treat, usually containing flour, eggs, sugar, and either butter or cooking oil, and often including ingredients such as raisins, oats, or chocolate chips. Most other English-speaking countries would call it a biscuit.
A close eggless cousin of the American cookie is the Indian Nankhatai. Traditionally made from soaked Maida or Semolina, this one is made in a jiffy from Allpurpose Flour. Takes under half an hour to make, and only five ingredients. The proportions here are enough to make 12 cookies.
Ingredients
1 cup Allpurpose Flour
¾ cup sugar (powdered)
½ cup ghee (soft, not flowing)
1 tsp. cardamom powder
Almonds sliced for garnish
Method
Mix allpurpose flour and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the cardamom powder and mix well. Now add the ghee and knead to form a soft dough.
Divide the dough into 12 equal parts, and make a small ball out of each. On a greased baking tray, put the ball and flatten it a little retaining its round shape. Add sliced almond on each one of them. You can also add saffron strands if desired.
Preheat oven to 300 F and bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove tray from the oven and cool the cookies.
This recipe was featured on Rediff Diwali Recipes 2014!!
Anonymous says
Can I use unsalted butter instead of ghee?
Smruti Ashar says
I don't think there should be any problem! It should be semi solid, such that you can knead the dough. I haven't tried though!!
Anonymous says
Pre-Heat oven for how long???
Smruti Ashar says
Preheat the oven for about 15 minutes.
Anonymous says
Hello! Do we ve u place it directly on.the tray or using foil?? I'm baking for the first time soo 🙂
Smruti Ashar says
Hi!! I'm glad u liked the recipe n are trying it out 🙂 just place them on a greased tray and they should be good!!
Anonymous says
Hi Smruti,
I tried to bake but it wasn't of much success. I have few question about oven functions.
What oven function to use ? Grill/ fan-grill/fan/defrost options? I tried to preheat in grill for 15 mins & later within 5mins it got burnt! The taste is good though 🙁
Smruti Ashar says
Hey!
I used the simple bake option on the oven. Did u use the correct temperature in terms of degrees C or F?? If you grill them, they will become hard n chewy. Bake setting on the oven ensures cooking and then browning givung us the desired result.hope this helps!
Anonymous says
I have this Bosch oven and it's really confusing! But my question is, Do u preheat n just turn it off to zero after placing the tray or run the same temp after placing the tray?
Smruti Ashar says
Use the bake option if u have one. Cos grill will definitely not work! You have to keep it at the same temperature once preheated.
Anonymous says
I am not sure if I have the bake option! 🙁 What do I do otherwise?
Anonymous says
I am not sure if I have the bake option! 🙁 What do I do otherwise?
Anonymous says
Hi smruti, your recipe seems to be so easy and tasty.. so trying it out.. just wanna know on which rack in the oven like in the middle or upper one, we have to bake the cookies?
Smruti Ashar says
Thanks for looking at the recipe. It is indeed very simple. Bake the cookies in the middle rack. They will brown very soon if they are in the upper rack, and remain uncooked. Do share how they turn out 🙂
Anonymous says
and one more thing is there any trick to check whether the cookies are fully baked?
Smruti Ashar says
Once you see the top layer becoming crumbly, different from the smooth texture it had wen u put it for baking, it is done!
Anonymous says
Thanks!! I have baked them and they are very tasty.. Even my hubby likes those 🙂 But he was asking can't we add some another flavor like vanilla or mango in this? Please reply.. I wanna try with some another flavor also
Anonymous says
i have baked them for lyk 25 min but they are still very soft... so will they be hardened after cooling?
Smruti Ashar says
They will harden a little once cooled.
Divya says
I prefer making ghee at home. But when I melt butter to make ghee, it ends up being liquid, not solid. If the weather gets real cold, the ghee will solidify a bit. Any suggestions to use ghee that is more liquid?
Smruti Ashar says
I would suggest you keep the ghee in the refrigerator for sometime so that it partially solidifies. Then use it to make the cookies. Hope this helps!
Anonymous says
19 cookies. ..baked at 310 for 12 minutes....needs one hour to completely cool down ....
Excellent recipe...����
Smruti Ashar says
Thanks Priya!! I am glad you liked it 🙂
Unknown says
Same measurement if I want to try with semolina?
Thanks
Smruti Ashar says
Semolina can be used along with maida/APF. I would take 1/2 1/2 of both with the other ingredients same.
Unknown says
Hi Smruti,
Can I use 1/2 Wheat flour & 1/2 Almond flour instead of APF?