CASHEW PISTA CUSTARD COOKIES

Hello everyone

Who doesn't like cookies and specially when it's home baked . I used to bake cookies occasionally and this time the occasion was my parents visit to my place. Cashew and pistachio are the most liked ingredients in any cookie after chocolates. So thought to give it a try once and viola they turned out unexpectedly delicious. They neither need many fancy ingredients nor much effort , that's why a novice can also try their hands on these beauties. Recipe is given below, do try it and share your experience with me too.

CASHEW PISTA CUSTARD COOKIES

Serves: 25-30 cookies ( depend on size)

Time: 45 - 60 mins

Ingredients 

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour ( maida)

1/4 cup custard powder, preferably vanilla flavored

1/2 cup butter or margarine at room temperature 

1/2 cup powdered sugar 

3/4 cup chopped cashew and pistachio 

1/2 tsp vanilla essence 

1/4 tsp cardamom powder

2 pinches baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

Few drops edible green color( optional)

Method:

First of all mix salt and baking soda in flour,  mix well and keep aside. Now mix butter/ margarine , edible color and powdered sugar together and beat till fluffy.

 Now add vanilla essence and cardamom powder, mix well. Add chopped dry fruits and fold together.

 Now add custard powder and mix well . Now add flour mix to butter mix in batches and keep mixing. When all flour is mixed , it will look like bread crumbs. 

Now using your finger make dough without applying much pressure.

 Now roll the dough in 1/2 cm thick small chapatti. Sprinkle some sliced pistachios on it and press lightly.

Cut cookies using cookie cutter. In this way cut all the cookies by repeatedly rolling , cutting and collecting scraps. 

Now place cookies in a baking tray lined with butter paper. Keep all cookies at some distance as they expand a little while baking. Now cover it with cling wrap or plastic sheet to avoid drying, and keep it in fridge for 1/2- 1 hrs or in freezer for 10 mins before baking.

Now bake it in preheated oven at 180degree C for 12- 15 mins. Keep an eye on it after 10mins , as soon as its edges and bottom start to change color,keep it out and cool on a wire rack . 

It may seems soft when kept out of oven but don't worry they will firm on cooling. if you feel it's under cooked then can bake for little more but never over bake your cookies , it kills all its texture and flavour. After cooling completely , keep these in an airtight jar and enjoy with tea for weeks.

You can also make log of prepared dough and cover with cling wrap and chill before cutting, to get oval or round cookies.

If you don't like custard powder then just replace it by all purpose flour.

These cookies are so delicious that can be served in kids school trips, b'day parties or tiffin itself, even elders too love to munch on these cuties. Hope you all will like this delicious crunchy munchy cookies recipe and definitely give it a try. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

EGGLESS GINGER BREAD MEN COOKIES

Hello everyone

I know , I am a bit late for this post but no worries new year is coming so why not give it a try to cherish our new year celebrations. Anyhow there is no particular time to gobble up your favorite cookies , isn't it☺️. I tried this recipe using my mix and match of ingredients and it turned out definitely superb. This is so easy to prepare and have tendency to fascinate not only kids but elders too. I was always thinking to try this atleast once but after tasting it in a mall at Christmas celebration , I started craving for it. And finally tried and succeeded to , not exactly replicate, but near to the original one. Step wise recipe is given below, hope you will try it and let me know , how it turned out for you😊.

Recipe inspiration: spiceupthecurry 

EGGLESS GINGER BREAD MEN COOKIES

Yield: 18-20 cookies

Time: 30 mins ( leaving chilling time)

Ingredients 

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup butter/ margarine ,at room temp.

2 tbsp oil

1/3 cup brown sugar or jaggery

1/4 cup molasses or honey or maple syrup or dates syrup

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 pinches baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp ginger powder

1/8 tsp nutmeg powder

1/8 tsp clove powder

For icing:

1 tbsp hot milk

1 tsp sugar 

3-4 tbsp milk powder

1/4 tsp molten butter/ghee

2-3 drop vanilla essence

Edible colors ( optional)

Method:

First of all take butter/ margarine, oil and brown sugar/ jaggery in a deep bowl and beat till nice fluffy. 

Now add molasses/ substitutes and again beat to incorporate all well. 

Now in a separate bowl add all dry ingredients together and mix well or sieve together.

 Now add flour mix to butter mix in batches and keep mixing. When all flour is mixed , it will look like bread crumbs. 

Now using your finger make dough without applying much pressure. Now roll the dough in 1/2 cm thick chapatti. 

Cut cookies using cookie cutter. If you find your dough delicate to handle then let it chill for 30 -60 mins in fridge then roll and cut. In this way cut all the cookies by repeatedly rolling , cutting and collecting scraps. 

Now place cookies in a baking tray lined with butter paper. Keep all cookies at some distance as they expand a little while baking. Now cover it with cling wrap or plastic sheet to avoid drying, and keep it in fridge for 2-3 hrs or in freezer for 30-40 mins before baking. Now bake it in preheated oven at 180degree C for 8-12 mins. Keep an eye on it after 8 mins , as soon as its edges start to change color,keep it out and cool on a wire rack . 

If you like more crunchy cookies then let it bake for little longer as mine are little soft yet crumbly, the perfect texture for ginger bread men cookies. Let it cool completely before icing. 

For icing : 

Mix sugar in milk and stir till dissolve. Now add essence,butter/ ghee and stir. Now add milk powder little by little and stir to mix properly and without lumps. Use as much milk powder as needed to form a smooth batter that can be piped easily, neither too runny nor too thick . 

Add desired color and mix well ( I skipped). Now fill the icing in icing bag and with thinner nozzle make designs of your choice.

 Let it dry for atleast 1/2 - 1 hr, then store in an airtight container.

Your yummy kids friendly cute ginger bread men cookies are ready to serve.

You can use any substitute mentioned in recipe but then it may make a difference in taste, but be sure in every way it will taste great. I used jaggery and dates syrup in my recipe. 

If you don't like spices , then substitute it by cocoa powder to get chocolate flavored ginger bread men cookies. As small kids generally don't like spicy flavours in their cakes and cookies, like my younger one😐.

Though these cookies are Christmas special delicacy but you can make and enjoy these any time and at any occasion specially at kids birthday party, as kids love to relish on these beauties any time.

Hope you all will give it a try and definitely love it. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....