Season’s sweet things – Indian spice cookies
It is the season again, my favorite of all times. As we begin December, I am not craving for sunshine or missing the crisp air of autumn, I have only Christmas in my head for now, and that is where I will stay for the rest of this year. I try to do everything early enough, so that I can kick the kitchen apron off, bunch up icing tips, tuck away rolling pins, brush all purpose flour off every surface in the house, and relax as we get close to Christmas day. That never seems to happen, I go like a spinning wheel come December, till about Christmas Eve when everything suddenly settles, and serenity comes back with such a force that I will not ever have it in any other way at any time in my life! There, I said it!
It is the season again, my favorite of all times. As we begin December, I am not craving for sunshine or missing the crisp air of autumn, I have only Christmas in my head for now, and that is where I will stay for the rest of this year. I try to do everything early enough, so that I can kick the kitchen apron off, bunch up icing tips, tuck away rolling pins, brush all purpose flour off every surface in the house, and relax as we get close to Christmas day. That never seems to happen, I go like a spinning wheel come December, till about Christmas Eve when everything suddenly settles, and serenity comes back with such a force that I will not ever have it in any other way at any time in my life! There, I said it!
Now I dare you all to make a batch of these cookies I loved to hate growing up. My attitude has mellowed ever since, this year I am even making some to include in the goodie basket for friends, a few of them are probably in for a surprise. Hidden behind the deceptive appearance of a crumbly butter cookie lurks an inner self perked up with some good amount of chilly powder and garam masala. A couple of bakeries in my home town used to spice these cookies up so high that your lips will burn for some good number of minutes after you ate one. When you adjust the heat level to fit your tolerance, you will see that these cookies are delectable in a different way.
Masala/Spice Cookies
All purpose flour 3 ¾ cup
Butter 1 ¾ cup
Confectioners sugar 1 ½ cup
Cashew nuts, finely chopped 1 cup
Garam masala 1 ½ tsp
Chilly powder 2 tsp
Ginger paste 1 tsp
Salt 1/4 tsp
Heat oven to 350 degreeC. Soften butter with a wooden spoon, add the rest of the ingredients and make smooth dough with the help of a wooden spoon or a hand mixer. Do not over work the dough, if it gets sticky refrigerate for 20 minutes. Make 1 inch balls of the dough and arrange on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes or till the edges begin to brown. Immediately transfer cookies along with the parchment sheet to a wire rack. Cool, store in air tight container for up to a week.
Makes approximately 70 cookies
Optional : Decorate with edible gold dust to fit the season.
Oooh, so lovely !
ReplyDeleteCharu
Ahhh...perfect with some chai! I totally get the feeling for early Christmas preparations....that then seems to drag on till Christmas eve : )
ReplyDeleteAmazing pics Archana. And with gold dust, they are truly decadent... and yes I wish I was one of those friends to recieve a goody basket containing this cookie filled with the spicy surprise.
ReplyDeleteOooo...I can smell Christmas..These are perfect for me ..I love spiced up baked goods!
ReplyDeleteLovely clicks.
Gorgeous cookies, soooo tempting..
ReplyDeleteThey look so crumbly and nice! Beautiful clicks as always!
ReplyDeleteThey look perfect and just the thing when there's such an overload of the sweet stuff.:)
ReplyDeleteWhat are these cookies called back home? I remember masala biscuits/ cookies from back home.
Charu,
ReplyDeleteThank you
Shiuli,
I agree, it is sooo good with a cup of Chai.
Rachel,
Thank you dear, wish you were living somewhere closer.
Tanvi
Thank you dear
Priya
Many thanks
Ria
Thankooo
Aparna
Thank you. Most popular name was "Mulaku biscuit" i think,but i have heard other names like spice biscuit,masala biscuit etc.
thanks for ur comments in my blog. cookies looks perfect and yummy. loved ur pic n presentation. keep visit and post ur comments when time gets.
ReplyDeleteThese spiced cookies look so Christmas-y! They will make as perfect gifts. I love spiced cookies but never really gotten to making them. That's because I don't know how. But now that I have your recipe and they are just in time for the season, I may actually just make them. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember the masala cookies!! I used to love them!!
ReplyDeleteAnd the gold dust looks so pretty. Where do you get to buy it?
First time here...awesome pics...
ReplyDelete