Kitchen Corner-Try It

Iced Cinnamon Cookies  Soft and buttery cinnamon cookies with chocolate chips and glazed icing is a delicious holiday cookie. It gives you all the Christmas season joy of making and sharing treats. They taste amazing and is so easy to make.While planning to make holiday treats, I asked my kid what is his favorite one. Out of all he answered chocolate chip cookies.Now I get it, not everyone is a big fan of decadent cakes and treats.I also get cravings to eat cookies once in a while and cinnamon flavored cookies are simply irresistible.  I used the basic short bread cookie recipe recipe.What is best about short bread cookie dough is that it is very versatile recipe.You can make hundreds of adaptions and add different flavorings. Cinnamon and chocolate chips cookies is perfect tea time snack, or just with a glass of milk.If this wasn't good enough,here is another way you can make it even more amazing with cinnamon glazed icing.This recipe will yield around 16 cookies. ...

Coconut Almond Cookies Coconut almond cookies are addictive and yummy cookies/biscuit with a  light melt in mouth texture. This recipe is egg less. I used organic coconut flour and all purpose flour. You can substitute with other grain flour  for gluten free cookies. Since this was the first time baking with  coconut flour I did not try a gluten free recipe. I will try more cookie recipes will this flour and will update later. The flavor of coconut flour and butter the crunch of sweetened coconut and almonds make this a yummy treat. Try this hope you will all enjoy! Ingredients All purpose flour- 3/4 cup Coconut flour-1 1/4 cup Powdered sugar- 1 cup Sweetened dessicated coconut 1/2 cup Chopped Almonds- 1/2 cup Baking powder- 1/2 tsp Baking soda- 1/2 tsp Salt- a pinch Butter- 1 stick Vegetable oil- 3 tbs Vanilla essence- 1/2 tsp(optional)    In a bowl add flour, coconut flour, powdered sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk it...

Chocolate Pecan Cookies Baking partners challenge this month was to attempt one gluten free recipe.For me it was intimidating as I have never tried flour less baking. Swathi recommended Dominique Ansel's chocolate pecan cookies. These cookies are utterly addictive, chocolaty goodness. They are light and crispy in the outside with a soft gooey center.This recipe is a keeper and currently my kids favorite chocolate cookies. The original recipe has cornstarch,but they turned out a little flat. Then I tried using almond flour/meal and it came out well.Thanks Swathi for the recipe. Recipe Source:  The Secret Recipes by Dominique Ansel Ingredients Dark Chocolate Chips- 2 cups (12 ounce) Unsalted butter- 3 tbs+ 1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar- 1 cup+ 2 tbs Almond Flour- 1/3 cup (or 1/4 cup corn starch) Baking powder- 3/4 tsp Salt- 1/2 tsp Egg- 3 Coarsely chopped Pecans- 1/2 cup Day one making the dough Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. Fill the pot with ab...

Spicy Biscuits/Kaara Biscuits Kaara biscuits is bakery style spicy and salty cracker. This is popular in Kerala and my next favorite after butter biscuits/Nankattai-  its sweet version. It is a perfect tea time snack too. These cookies are flavorful with spices,mint, fried onions and sesame seeds. It is light and crispy  biscuits.You can also try egg less version of this recipe. Give this recipe a try,you will surely love it.   Ingredients All purpose flour- 2  cup Salt- 1 tsp Sugar- 2 tbs Egg- 1 Baking powder- 1 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Green chilly-finely chopped-2 Fried onion powder-1/4 cup (optional) Grated ginger- 1 inch thick Clove and cardamon powder- 1/3 tsp Cumin powder- a pinch Chopped coriander leaves and mint-2 tbs Margarine- 1/2 stick Vegetable oil- 1/4 cup Sesame seeds- 2 tbs In a bowl add flour,salt,sugar, baking powder, chilly powder, fried onion powder, clove and cardamon powder. Whisk it together till well combined...

Coconut Macaroons Coconut Macaroons are delightful and irresistible cookies made with egg whites and coconut. It is chewy cookies, crisp in the outside and soft inside. Earlier I tried a recipe which uses condensed milk, but I felt it too sweet and sticky. So this recipe does not contain condense milk. This recipe will give you around 12 -14 cookies. Try this recipe,you will surely love it. Ingredients Dry coconut( finely shredded)- 1 1/2 cup All Purpose flour- 2 tbs Egg white-3 Cream of tartar- 1/8 ts(optional) Sugar- 1/3 cup Vanilla essence- 1 tsp Salt- a pinch Mix shredded coconut, flour and salt and keep aside. In a separate bowl beat egg whites. When the egg whites are bubbly and white add cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form or when you see streaks with your whisker.Gradually add  granulated white sugar in little additions and beat until almost stiff peaks form. If you lift the whisk the egg meringue will be slightly drooping down wards.Add v...

 Butterscotch Cookies Butterscotch is a basic dessert flavor that everyone likes. This intense caramelized sugar and butter flavor gives a  rich taste to cookies as well.These cookies are soft, chewy and really addictive. Recipe source : Sherry Yard, The Secrets of Baking,Houghton Mifflin Compony, Boston, 2003 Ingredients Cold Unsalted butter-6 tbs Brown butter- 2 tbs (optional) All purpose flour- 1 1/2 cup Dark brown sugar- 3/4 cup Molasses- 2 tbs Salt- 1/4 tsp Egg- 2 vanilla extract- 1tsp Demerara Sugar-2 tbs Cream butter in medium speed,till it is pale yellow.Add brown sugar,brown butter,molasses and salt. (To make brown butter melt butter in medium low flame, continue cooking till butter changes color to golden brown. Allow this to cool down and use in the recipe. This step is optional) Cream till all the ingredients are evenly mixed. Add egg one at a time add beat till fully incorporated. Do not over beat. Add flour and fold in till the dough...

Butter Biscuits/ Kerala Bakery Biscuits Happy New Year to all my friends and readers! This is my first post of 2015. I know I am a bit late to wish to all. Wishing you all a happy and rocking 2015! Today's recipe is a sweet treat from Kerala. It is one of my favorite treats,  Kerala bakery-style biscuits/cookies. Butter cookies are the best cookies ever- buttery, crumbly, melt in the mouth, and perfect for holidays. They are delicately crisp, flavorful, and sweet. Everything about this biscuit is good. It is addictive. Trust me on this. The Kerala-style butter biscuits have the flavor of cardamom powder and ghee. You will often find this in glass jars, in cozy old fashioned bakeries in Kerala. It brings back fond memories of childhood. It has a light melt in the mouth texture, similar to butter cookies like Benne biscuit or the nankattai.  You might be surprised to find out that it is super easy to make at home. Butter biscuits are sweet, flaky buttery goodness. To ge...

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies Chocolate chip cookies is my son's favorite. I often make it as an after school treat. This time I added some chopped walnuts and it tasted even better.Try this with a cup of milk or warm coffee, you will surely love it. Ingredients All purpose flour- 1 1/2 cup Baking soda- 1 tsp Salt- 1/2 tsp Walnut meal- 1 cup Semi sweet chocolate- 1cup Sugar- 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar- 1/3 cup Egg-2 Butter- 1/2 cup Vanilla extract- 1 tsp Preheat oven to 350 degree f and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl,combine butter, granulate sugar, brown sugar on medium speed beat till smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well blended. Slowly add the dry ingredients, walnut meal and beat on low speed until just incorporated.  Finally fold in the chocolate chips.Refrigerate and chill the dough for one hour.  Drop the dough heaping tablespoon to prepared baking sheet. Place cookie dough two inch apart. ...

Linzer Cookies Baking partners challenge for February,Valentine month is heart shape Linzer cookies. This recipe was suggested by Swathi . Swathi send us two cookie recipes- Linzer heart cookies and heart shaped crunchy seed cookies.Linzer cookie recipe is egg less almond flavored cookies. It is buttery and delicate sandwiched cookies. The filling is jam/fruit preserve. Try this yummy cookies,you will surely love it. Adapted from Alice Medrich, Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunchy Ingredients  Unbleached all-purpose flour-1  cup 2 tablespoon  (5.06 ounces)/145g Ground almonds and/or hazelnuts-1/2 cup (2.5 ounces) 63g Sugar-1/4 cup (1.75 ounces)/50g Salt- 1/8 tsp Ground Cinnamon- 1/8 tsp Ground clove- 1/8 tsp Butter- 8 tbs Almond extract- 1/8 tsp  Lemon zest- 1 tsp Orange zest- 1 tsp Strawberry jam- Powdered sugar for dusting Blanch almond and process in food processor till fine powder along with one tsp powdered sugar. (you can also u...

Chinese Almond Cookies Chinese Almond Cookies is rich, crisp tender and  buttery cookies. I first came across this recipe in Sherry Yard's Secrets of Baking . It was also part of the baking partners challenge. I could not try it then, but had saved the recipe. Since it is Christmas I decided to bake these cookies. The flavor of this cookie comes from Almond paste and almond extract. Almond paste is available in supermarkets. Amaretto, Italian liquor made of bitter almonds and apricots can also be used instead of almond extract. You can also add ½ cup of sliced toasted almonds to give the cookie more texture. Recipe Source: The Secrets of Baking-Simple Techniques for Sophisticated Desserts, Sherry Yard Ingredients All Purpose Flour- 2 1/2 cups Baking powder- 1 1/2 tsp Butter- cold unsalted- 6 oz./ 1 1/2 stick Sugar- 3/4 cup + 1 tbs for rolling Almond paste- 1/2 cup Orange zest- 1 tbs Almond extract- 1/2 tsp Egg- 1 large Egg white-1 Almonds- 1/3 for garnish De...

Pistachio Cookies Rich and buttery cookies with the flavor and crunch of pistachios.I simply love this light green cookies which is a perfect tea time cookie.  As a variation to this you can use almond meal and a splash of Amaretto (Italian almond liqueur) to make flavorful almond cookies. Try this,you will surely love it. Ingredients All purpose flour-2 cups Baking powder- 2 tsp Salt- 1/2 tsp Sugar- 3/4 cup Egg- 1 egg + one egg white Pistachio instant pudding mix- 2 tsp (This is optional or you can add a few drops of permitted  green food color) Powdered pistachio- 1/2 cup ( use food processor to make a course meal) Cold Unsalted Butter- 1 stick Chopped pistachio- 1/3 cup Vanilla essence- 1 tsp Sift flours,baking powder, powdered pistachio,pudding mix and salt into a bowl. You can slightly toast pistachios and make a coarse powder using a food processor. Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer cream butter and sugar till it is pale yellow, smoot...

Hamantaschen Hamatashen is a  triangular pasty style cookie which is traditional to the Jews. It is served on the Jewish festival of Purim. Purim is a joyous festival and these buttery citrus flavored cookies are exchanged as gifts. I came to know more about Purim and this special cookie hamantaschen when my hubby's co- worker's Jessica and Teodora shared this recipe with a detailed diagram on how to shape the cookies. They also sent a list of filling suggestions which I am sure you will find interesting (It is listed below).  So today's recipe is a shared recipe from friends. Thanks Jessica and Teodora for this beautiful foolproof cookie recipe. Ingredients This recipe will make around 24 cookies. Sugar- 3/4 cup Shortening- 3/4 cup ( I used half butter and half shortening) Eggs-3 Orange Juice- 3/4 cup All purpose flour- 4 1/2 cup Baking powder- 3 tsp Salt- 1/2 tsp For the filling Dates chopped- 1/2 cup Orange marmalade- 1/2 cup Chopped walnut...

Speculoos Cookie Sandwiches Baking partners challenge for this month is cookies.  Swathi suggested that members attempt famous cookies from around the world and four cookies were selected.Dutch Speculoos cookies, Kourabeithes from Greece, Biscotti from Italy and Chinese almond cookies. It was definitely a hard choice to decide which cookie to bake. But  Speculoos Sandwich cookie looked irresistible. What I found interesting is its spice mix of cinnamon,pepper,ginger,clove and nutmeg and the chocolate cinnamon filling. Speculoos cookie is also known as Belgian Spice Cookies or Dutch Windmill cookies and in countries outside Europe they are sold as  Biscoff cookies. It is a special occasion cookie  traditionally made to celebrate St Nicholas Feast (Dec 5-6) in countries like Netherland,Belgium and Northern France.It is a spiced thin biscuit with an image or story stamped on it. ( they use a wooden stamp or a rolling pin to imprint images on the biscuit...

Fried Cookies with Ginger Pineapple Glaze Today's recipe is deep fried cookies. There are different types of deep fried cookies, pastry doughs and sandwich cookies.The inspiration for this one is Fried Chinese ginger cookies.I love them because they have a sweet crispy outside and you can try different flavors.This cookie has the enticing ginger and pineapple flavor. The cookie dough is fried and then glazed with a ginger- pineapple sugar syrup. You can also use honey instead of sugar for the syrup.Fry and served warm with the glaze and it is a delicious treat. Ingredients All purpose flour- 2 cup Egg-2 Baking powder- 1/2 tsp Ginger powder- 1/2 tsp Fresh ginger juice- 1 tsp cinnamon powder- a pinch Salt- a pinch Sugar- 2 tbs For the glaze Sugar- 1 cup water- 1/2 cup Ginger juice- 1tsp Pineapple chopped or crushed- 1/2 cup Cinnamon powder- 1/3 tsp Oil for frying  Mix flour, ginger powder, cinnamon powder salt, sugar and baking powder. Make a well...

French Macarons Today's post is Baking partners challenge#7 and it is one of the finest cookies that you can ever taste- French Macarons . When Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen suggested doing macarons for this months challenge,I could not make up my mind .I would have immediately said yes, if it was coconut macaroon,but Swathi wanted nothing short of the classic French Macaron. Macarons are beautiful sandwich cookies that you find in a wide range of colors. It can be called a confectionery,cookie or a pastry.The chief ingredients are egg whites and almond flour and the cookie has an unbelievable crispy- chewy texture. The filling can be anything from jam,chocolate ganache,caramel or butter cream. This recipe sounds simple with very few ingredients but sometimes making it may be frustrating experience, especially with an uncooperative meringue which can be due to over mixing or under mixing of the batter. This can leads to cracks on the shell, no feet or flat coo...

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies  Oatmeal cookies are healthy and is a perfect snack for kids.It is crispy and chewy cookies and cranberries makes it more interesting with a sweet tart. For a twist you can add raisins or chocolate chips. This is a perfect holiday cookie. Recipe adapted from here Ingredients Quick or old fashioned oats- 2 cup All purpose flour- 1 cup Apple sauce- 1/2 cup Butter- 1/2 stick Sugar- 3/4 cup Egg-2 Baking powder-  1 1/2 tsp Salt- 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon- 3/4 tsp Nutmeg- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract- 1 tsp Dried cranberries- 1/2 cup Heat oven to 350 degree F. Spray cookie sheet and keep ready. Mix flour,oats,baking soda,salt cinnamon,nutmeg  and set aside. In a large bowl,beat butter, egg and sugar till it is light and creamy. Add the apple sauce and vanilla extract and combine. Mix in the dry ingredients and cranberries till all come together. Drop spoon fulls of cookie dough on the sheet or two tables into a small ball. place each b...