Eggless Tutti Frutti Cookies | Karachi Biscuits

Tutti-frutti studded cookies; these Karachi biscuits are a treat for tea time. A simple list of pantry essentials and an easy to follow recipe!

These also make the most perfect Holiday treats or hostess gift.

Biscuits, one of India's favorite tea-time snack. For years we have enjoyed various types of biscuits and chai biscuit is definitely a lifestyle and not just a combo.

These biscuits of course are different from the gravy and biscuits we get in the US.

Biscuits are sweet or savory unleavened bakes that are crisp and super delicious. They are super popular and loved by everyone. It is no surprise that there are brands competing for the top position in this FMCG sector.

Moving away from the larger companies, there are local favorites. They have their fan following in their local area and spreads eventually to the rest of the country and world.

Karachi Bakery is one such brand. Established in Hyderabad and now available globally, this brand has a popular biscuits that is studded with tutti frutti and happens to be a favorite among many.

What are Karachi Biscuits

Karachi Bakery has a ton of different biscuits that they sell across the globe. However, their signature biscuits are the ones that are ones with tutti-frutti.

Also called as fruit biscuits these are melt in the mouth and have the perfect balance of tutti-frutti and sugar to not be over sweet.

While these originated in Karachi bakery, they are now popular all over and are not very difficult to make at home. And whether it is Diwali, Christmas or any cookie baking occasion, these are always on my list.

These make a perfect addition to your Holiday cookie box or for a hostess gift.

This Recipe of Karachi Biscuits

• Are eggless and nut-free. They use dairy ingredients making them vegetarian friendly.
• These require minimum active time to bring together and bake. The rest of the time is just resting time in the refrigerator or freezer.
• These tea-time biscuits are full of tutti-frutti and can also be made with some added cashews. They are great as a snack.
• Karachi biscuits are delicate and delicious. Baking them too long will result in chewy cookies and the tutti-frutti tends to harden too.

These cookies are best made with ample chilling time. The dough comes together in under 10 minutes and then it requires chilling. Once frozen for 40-45 minutes or refrigerated for a couple of hours, the rest of the baking will be smooth.

Not chilling the dough or using a hot baking tray can result in them spreading. I have had a cookie tray full of just one cookie. All my cookies melted into one giant cookie!

These cookies are a favorite for many years and now they can be made so easily at home! Make a big batch; these tend to disappear quickly I promise!

Video Recipe

Ingredients

Flour: We use all purpose flour for the recipe. Whole wheat flour will work but I have not tried making them with this yet.

Custard powder: This us an important element of the recipe. While vanilla flavored custard is generally used, other flavors can be added too. Moreover, various brands have different kinds of custard powders.

Some of the brands have a light yellow colored powder while some have white. If you would like a yellow tinge, add some yellow color in case the custard powder you use is white. This brand has white colored custard powder.

Sugar: We use powdered sugar for the recipe. Blend some granulated sugar or opt for store bought confectioner' sugar. Both work equally well for the recipe.

Tutti Frutti: The star ingredient of the recipe is tutti frutti. It is essentially candied papaya bits.

This is easy to find on Amazon or in stores. Plus, during the Holiday season, stores sell a Holiday mix. This can be used too.

Plus, I like to add some cashews and cardamom powder to the recipe sometimes. They bring out the best flavors together.

Unsalted butter: I like to use unsalted butter for the recipe and add a pinch of salt.

Ensure that the butter is at room temperature when you start the recipe. I like to place it on the counter for a few hours before using.

Milk: While bringing the dough together, we need some milk. I like to use whole milk at room temperature. The amount of milk required will vary on the dough consistency.

Essence: The most essence in the recipe is pineapple flavor. However, I have made it with some orange extract too. That works wonderfully with the vanilla flavored custard.

Step by Step Instructions to make Karachi Biscuits

1- In a bowl add all purpose flour, custard powder, salt, baking powder and cardamom powder.

2- Mix well till combined.

3- In the bowl of the stand mixer or a large bowl add sugar and unsalted butter.

4- Using the paddle attachment whisk till the sugar melts and the mix is pale yellow.

5- Then add the dry ingredients and tutti-frutti.

6- Whisk till the mix is crumbly.

7- Add a couple of tablespoons of milk and bring the dough together. Add more milk only if required.

8- Transfer the dough on to a cookie sheet. Knead for a few seconds.

9- Divide the dough into half and roll each piece into a log of about 2-3 inch diameter.

10- Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-5 hours or freeze for 45 minutes.

11- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Remove the dough logs and unwrap them. Cut evenly into discs. I like to keep them ¼ inch thick.

12- Arrange the discs on the cookie sheet leaving an inch on each side.

13- Bake the cookies for 15-17 minutes. Mine took 17 minutes to form crisp edges.

14- Remove the cookies and let them cool. Transfer to an airtight container and enjoy!

Tips and Notes

• If the tutti frutti (candied papaya) is large in size roughly chop it. The ones from the Indian stores are generally tiny and can be used as is. If using cherries, chop them roughly before using.
• Adding some chopped cashews, other nuts or even raisins works for the recipe. They add a lot of texture and crisp bits in the cookies. Plus, adding orange or tutti-frutti extract in place of pineapple extract works too.
• The cookies are easy to burn and crisp up completely. So even though the centers seem soft, if the edges are crisp, remove from the oven and let them cool completely. If over-baked, the tutti-frutti tends to become chewy.
• Preheat the oven before removing the dough log and cutting the cookies. That way we minimize the spreading of the cookies while baking.
• Leave enough space on all sides for the cookies to spread while baking. This way we do not end up with cookies sticking each other.

More cookie recipes to try

• Eggless Brownie Cookies: Chewy edges and soft centers; these super indulgent Brownie Cookies are a delicious thing to bake. Plus, they are really easy to make and taste great refrigerated or at room temperature!
• Eggless Vanilla Cookies with Chocolate Filling: Rich buttery vanilla cookies with chocolate filled centers; these cookies are easy and always delicious. These need a handful of ingredients and come together in under 30 minutes!
• Eggless Spritz Cookies: Perfect for Christmas, these eggless Spritz cookies are buttery, soft and crunchy. With just a handful of ingredients, these cookies are easy to make and super addictive!

The recipe was originally published in 2018, updated in 2022.