Spritz Christmas Cookies (Whole Wheat & Eggless Cookies)

Category: Baking
Preparation Time: 20 mins  
Cooking Time: 8 -12 mins
Servings: Yields around 3 dozen cookies

Spritz Christmas Cookies

Spritz cookies are crisp buttery cookies specially made during the holiday season. These cookies doesn't have any levening agents like baking soda or baking powder. I adapted this recipe from here and I tried with both normal whole wheat  flour as well as whole wheat pastry flour. With pastry flour the cookies are crispier:) If we are not having cookie press, we can make small rounds with our hands or can also use pastry bags with star nozzle but I haven't personally tried it.

Ingredients:

• Whole Wheat Pastry flour - 1 cup + 3 Tbsp (I used Organic whole wheat pastry flour)*
• Butter - 1/2 cup, softened at room temperature
• Powdered sugar or Icing Sugar - 1/2 cup + 3 Tbsp (I powdered the organic unrefined cane sugar)
• Corn starch - 1/4 cup + 3 Tbsp
• Milk - 2 Tbsp (at room temperature)

Coconut Macaroons (Eggless Version)

Category:  Baking / Dessert
Preparation Time: 10  mins
Cooking Time: 15 to 20 mins
Servings: yields around 2 dozen macaroons

Eggless Coconut Macaroons

This is an eggless version of coconut macaroons and those who love coconut will surely enjoy them:) Also this is an easy version with minimal ingredients, yeah we just need three ingredients in total! Isn't it awesome? Here I used sweetened coconut flakes since that what I had in my hand. So the macaroons were on the sweeter side, if we need less sweeter version, we can replace it with unsweetened flakes. Ok let's start baking macaroons:)

Ingredients:

• Coconut flakes - Around 2 to 3 cups (I used sweetened flakes)
• Condensed milk  - Around 1/2 to 3/4 cup (Sweetened condensed milk)
• Vanilla essence  - few drops

Note: The actual quantity of coconut flakes and condensed milk may vary; adjust as per requirement until we get the right consistency

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F for 10 to 15 mins and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2. If the coconut flakes are little big, we can use as such or we can grind it to small flakes and use them instead. It purely depends on our preference

Whole Wheat Tutti Frutti Butter Cookies (Eggless Slice & Bake Cookies)

Category: Baking
Preparation Time: 20 mins + 1 hr freezing
Cooking Time: 10-15 mins
Servings: Yields around 18-20 cookies

Tutti Frutti Cookies with Whole Wheat flour

 Ingredients:

• Whole Wheat flour*- 1 cup
• Butter -1/4 cup + 2 tbsp (Cold Butter Stick)
• Icing / Powdered sugar - 1/2 cup
• Tutti Frutti - 1/3 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
• Milk - 1/2 - 2 tbsp (adjust as per consistency)

*Here i used White Whole Wheat flour and so needed just 1/2 tbsp of milk

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, add the cold butter pieces and powdered sugar and beat well for 3-4 mins until it becomes soft and creamy
   
   
   
   
2. Add in the vanilla extract and mix well
   
3. Now add the wheat flour and tutti frutti and mix gently until it gets combined well
   
4. Add about 1/2 to 1 tbsp of milk and make it into a soft dough
   
5. Lay a butter paper / plastic sheet, place the dough over it and make it to form a cylindrical log (if its too sticky, we can dust flour if needed)
6. Tightly wrap or roll it with the butter paper / sheet and place it in freezer for an hour (Chilling makes the butter gets solidified and also makes the cookies flaky and less spread while baking)
   
7. Pre heat the oven to 350 F for 10 mins
8. Remove the log from the freezer and slice them into circular dics with sharp knife. Cookies should be little thick and not so thin
   
9. Line a cookie sheet/ tray with parchment paper and place the cookies over it, by leaving enough space between them
   
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 mins until the edges started to brown
    
11. Once its done, remove it from the tray after 3-4 mins and place it on wire rack to cool down. While taking out, the cookies will be soft but will get crisp on cooling down
    
12. Then store it in airtight container; The crispiness will reduce after 2 days but still the soft cookies tastes great!
    

Ragi Cookies / Biscuits (Eggless)

Category: Baking
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 12-15 mins
Servings: Yields around 2 dozen cookies

Ragi Biscuits

  Ingredients:

• Ragi Flour - 1/2 cup
• Whole Wheat flour / Atta* - 1/2 cup
• Brown Sugar / Jaggery - 1/2 cup
• Butter -1/2 cup (Cold Butter Sticks)
• Baking Powder - 1 tsp
• Milk - 1-2 tbsp (adjust as per the consistency of the dough)
• Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

*I also tried with Whole Wheat Pastry flour and in such case No milk would be needed

Method:

1. Pre heat oven to 350 F for atleast 10-15 mins
2. Dry roast the Ragi flour in low flame for few mins till we get nice aroma
   
3. Sieve together, the Wheat flour, Ragi flour and Baking powder into a mixing bowl
   
4. Cut the cold butter into cubes; Add the butter to the flour and mix it well with fingers to get crumbly mixture
   
5. Add the Sugar / Jaggery to it and mix well
   
6. If the dough is too dry, add 1-2 tbsp of milk and knead it to form a smooth dough
7. We can refrigerate the dough for 15-20 mins so that it gets bit stiff, this step is optional and I tried both the ways and it came out well
   
8. Make small balls out of the dough, flatten it a little and slightly press with fork for the markings and place it on the baking sheet
9. We can also roll the dough and cut using cookie cutters or if its too soft we can even press it using cookie press
10. Bake it in the pre heated oven for 12- 15 mins or until it starts slightly browning at the edges
    
11. Once its done, remove the tray and allow it to cool for 5 mins before taking out into cooling rack 
    
12. While taking out, the cookies will be very soft and upon cooling it becomes bit crisp, Then store it in air tight container
    

Traffic Light Oatmeal Cookies (Eggless)

 Category: Baking
Preparation Time: 10 mins  
Cooking Time: 11-14 mins
Servings: Yields 10 cookies

Traffic light Oatmeal cookies

                            

Traffic Light Oatmeal Cookies are very appealing and a yummy treat for the little ones:) and this one is adapted from my oatmeal-raisin cookies. Though having Candies is not very healthy, very occasional treats are considerable;) and with the goodness of oats and wheat it becomes healthier. This is an eggless recipe and also does not use any baking powder or baking soda. Also it has the goodness of whole wheat flour. They are crispy outside and little chewy inside:) If we dont want the cookies to be on the sweeter side, we can even reduce the sugar by 2-3 tbsp. 

Traffic Light Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• Quick Cooking Oats - 1/2 cup
• Whole Wheat flour / Atta* - 1/3 cup
• Brown Sugar - 1/3 cup
• Butter, softened - 1/4 cup
• M&M Candies (Green, Yellow & Red Coloured ones) - 30 (10 in each colour)
• Milk - 1 tbsp (adjust as per the consistency of the dough)
• Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - a pinch

*Whole Wheat Pastry flour can also be used

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies (Eggless)

Category: Baking
Preparation Time: 10 mins  
Cooking Time: 11-14 mins
Servings: Yields 1 dozen cookies

Oatmeal-raisin Cookies are perfect snacks for kids and this recipe does not use any baking powder or baking soda. Also it has the goodness of whole wheat flour. They are crispy outside and little chewy inside:) If we dont want the cookies to be on the sweeter side, we can even reduce the sugar by 2-3 tbsp. 

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

 Ingredients:

• Quick Cooking Oats - 1/2 cup
• Whole Wheat flour / Atta* - 1/3 cup
• Brown Sugar - 1/3 cup
• Butter, softened - 1/4 cup
• Raisins - 1/2 cup
• Milk - 1 tbsp (adjust as per the consistency of the dough)
• Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - a pinch

*Whole Wheat Pastry flour can also be used

Method:

1. Take out the better from the refrigerator and keep at room temperature atleast 1-2 hours before preparation, so it gets softened
   
2. Measure and keep the other ingredients ready
   
   
   
3. Pre heat oven to 350 F for atleast 10-15 mins
4. In a wide bowl, add the softened butter and brown sugar, beat it well to form a creamy texture
   
   
   
5. Add in the Vanilla extract and beat it well
6. Now add the oats, wheat flour, pinch of salt to the butter-sugar mixture and mix with hands to form a dough consistency; If its too dry, add 1-2 tbsp of milk to it to reach a dough consistency
   
7. Gently fold in the raisins to the dough and mix well
   
8. Make small uniform balls, flatten it gently and place it in cookie tray. Ensure it is not crowded and leave at least 1/2 inch  space between the cookies 
   
9. Keep the tray in the pre heated oven and allow it to bake for 11-14 mins till the outer edge started to turn golden brown
   
10. Once its done, remove the tray and allow it to cool for 5 mins before taking out into cooling rack 
11. While taking out, the cookies will be very soft and upon cooling it becomes bit crisp, Then store it in air tight container