Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Almond Flour Cookies | Almond Cookies

Almond Cookies, delicious and flavorful cookies made from just three main ingredients like almond flour, sugar and coconut oil. It's one of the easiest cookies that i have baked so far yet it's super tasty and you can't stop by one.

Recently, i have been looking for some easy homemade cookie recipes for my little one. That's when i remembered about these almond cookies that i had baked a long time ago. So after a bit of browsing through my drafts, found the recipe which was actually saved from some pinterest board(not exactly know the source of the recipe now) and baked instantly. As expected, it turned out good and to my surprise, my little one also enjoyed it as much as i did.

These cookies taste similar to coconut cookies without any coconut and are buttery without any butter in the recipe and so flavorful without any flavoring agents. The key ingredient in the recipe is the coconut oil that gives all the flavor and taste.

Right before baking !!

Coconut Oil

As i mentioned earlier, coconut oil is the key ingredient for these cookies. Hence make sure to virgin coconut oil for that great flavor.

For this recipe, coconut oil should be in liquid state and at the same time shouldn't be hot. So if you're living in the cold places where coconut oil always freezes, then melt the oil in the microwave or on the stove top and let it come to lukewarm temperature before using it.

Sugar

For 1 cup of almond flour, i have used just 2tbsp of sugar in this recipe which is perfect for us since i have baked these cookies for my kid and I don't want to over-sugar them. But you can add an extra tbsp of sugar if you want really sweet cookies.

Also, i have used powdered sugar in this recipe. But regular sugar/ light brown sugar can also be used .

Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough should be slightly sticky so that it can be shaped easily. If the dough is too sticky, then add a tbsp of almond flour and mix it well again.

Likewise, if the dough is too dry and unable to shape them, then add a tsp of water, mix it well. Yep, it's such a forgiving dough :-)

Cookie Texture

These cookies are slightly crispy on the day of baking. Afterwards, it's slightly chewy like coconut cookies. However, it tastes delicious either way !

Finally, if you're looking for some healthy cookies to bake for your kids/adults, i would highly recommend to try these cookies.

Now let's check out on how to make delicious almond cookies.

Almond Flour Cookies | Almond Cookies

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Cookies | Recipe Cuisine: General

Ingredients

Almond Flour - 1 cup

Powdered Sugar - 2 tbsp

Coconut Oil - 2 tbsp

Salt - 1/8 tsp

Water - 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp

Almond Slices - a few (optional)

Procedure

Preheat the oven @ 350F

In a bowl, add the almond flour, sugar and salt, mix it well together.

Next add the coconut oil & water and start mixing it with the dry ingredients.

It will form a slightly sticky dough. Now, pinch a small amount of dough from the mixture and roll into a ball.

Then flatten it a bit in your palms and place it on the parchment lined baking tray. Do the same for all the dough and then place a sliced almonds(it's totally optional) on each cookie dough and press it gently.

Bake it on the preheated oven @350F for 15-18 mins. Delicious and flavorful almond cookies are ready.

Related: How to make Peanut Butter Cookies

Notes:

Depends on the oven, the baking time varies, so keep an eye on the cookies after 15 mins.
Once the cookies are completely cooled down, store it in air-tight container.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Homemade Granola | How to make Granola

Granola, a delicious and healthy breakfast/ snack food made from rolled oats, nuts and dried fruits.The flavor and the taste from the home made granola is really amazing !! Make them in bulk and store them comes handy for breakfast on busy mornings.

When we were newly married, most of the days, our morning breakfast was some kind of store bought cereal. Before marriage, ST was so used to having cereals for morning breakfast in the US, so later when i had joined him, i too followed the same because i didn't know anything in cooking back then. Initially i liked it without bothering much about how healthy it is for breakfast and all. Later it's kind of bored and started to make the typical tamilnadu breakfast such as idli/dosa for breakfast.

Now it's more than 3 years since we bought a pack of cereal from the store. Instead i have been making this granola at home and we liked it so much more than any store bought cereal that we had tried so far. It's such a simple recipe and ready in 20 mins, it can be served with milk for breakfast or with yogurt as a snack. Before moving to the recipe, let's answer all the basic questions that might have popped in your head about granola.

Which oats is best for granola?
Old fashioned rolled oats is best for making granola. Don't use the quick 2 mins oats for this recipe

Which oil is best for making granola?
My personal choice is coconut oil. I love the mild coconut flavor in the granola. But you can use the olive oil, canola oil or any flavorless oil also.

What are the nuts taste best with granola?
In today's recipe, i have used almonds alone. But you can use whatever nuts you like. Almonds, pecans, cashews and walnuts also taste good with granola.

Honey or maple syrup for granola?
Again it's purely a personal choice. I like maple syrup over honey any day. Also i have read that using honey helps to clump the granola together, so if you're into clumpy granola, use honey or half and half of both

How to make clumpy granola ?
Personally i don't like clumpy granola, so haven't tried all those tips available online for making clumpy granola. Like i said before honey helps to make clumpy granola. Another tip is to press the oats well and bake it. Once it's out of the oven, don't stir it immediately, let it cool naturally, all these help to get clumpy granola.

When to add dried fruits in granola?
Add the dried fruits into the granola once it's baked, no need to bake them, it's easily burned in baking.

What are the other things to add granola?
Seeds can be added in granola. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds are taste great with granola.
In addition to that coconut flakes or slices can be added. Personally i like to add desiccated unsweetened coconut flakes into my granola. The flavor of coconut goes well with the oats and it's my favorite ingredient in making granola.

Homemade Granola | How to make Granola

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Breakfast | Recipe Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients
Rolled Oats - 2 cups
Almonds - 3/4 cup
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Desiccated Coconut - 3 tbsp
Coconut Oil - 1/4 cup
Maple Syrup - 1/4 cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp

Procedure

First take the coconut oil and maple syrup in a bowl, add salt & vanilla extract into it.

Mix it all well together. Then add the oats and almonds(i have chopped them into half). Mix them well until all the oats coated with oil & syrup mixture.

Preheat the oven @300 F. Line the baking tray with parchment paper and transfer the oats mixture into it. Spread them evenly as single layer and put it in the oven and bake it for 20-25 mins. Half way through take the tray out and mix it well and press it again and put it back in oven.

Once the oats are out of oven, add the raisins and coconut. Mix it well. Let them cool completely and store it in air tight container.

Healthy Granola is ready !!

For more international breakfast recipe, check out here or if you do like pancakes, check out this amazing oats pancakes made from rolled oats.

Notes:

Other than raisins you can add whatever the dried fruits you like
Every oven differs slightly and so keep an eye on the oats while baking.
When the oats is well toasted, it's crunchy when it's cooled.
Instead of using chopped almonds, you can use as it as whole also.
If you're coconut oil is frozen, put it in a bowl of hot water or microwave it until it's all melted.
If you're making in large quantity, use large pan or do it in batch for even roasting of oats
In addition to the vanilla extract,you can add 1/2 tsp of cinnamon flavor also for extra flavor.

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Wednesday, May 24, 2023