Whole Wheat cookies recipe

In my Cookies Workshop, I always teach fancy cookies. But there were many requests for recipes of simple cookies such as Nankhatai etc. A Nankhatai is an Indian shortbread made by using ghee along with all-purpose flour and flavored with cardamom and nutmeg.

I wanted to make Nankhatai using whole wheat flour. After doing a few trials I wasn’t happy with the results as the cookies were sticking in my mouth and I was not getting that melt in the mouthfeel.

I was using very fine ground wheat flour and that was making the cookies stick in the mouth. I then decided to use some coarsely ground whole wheat flour (you can use ready made whole wheat flour which is slightly course) along with some fine semolina or Rawa. However, when I was mixing the dough I realized I needed some more flour and had some Nachani or Ragi flour in my pantry, hence I decided to put it. When I baked these cookies, I was really happy with the result. The cookies had a wonderful mouthfeel and the flavor of cardamom was lovely. The combination of whole wheat flour, nachani and Rawa resulted in an absolutely delicious cookie.

I baked the cookies at 170 degree Celsius for about 20 minutes. They were crunchy on the sides and slightly soft in the center but eventually as they cooled completely they were crisper. Cookies are always soft when they are out of the oven and become crisp once they cool.

I am not sure whether I should name them Nankhatai just because they are made with ghee or should I call them simple wheat cookies??

Do try this recipe and if you could think of any other name do let me know.  Happy baking

Ingredients

• Ghee:  1/4 cup
• Powdered sugar: 1/3 cup
• Whole wheat flour: 1/2 cup
• Semolina OR Fine Rawa: 1/8 cup
• Finger millet flour (Nachani):  1/8 cup
• Cardamom powder: 2 pinch
• Milk:  3 tablespoons
• Cashews:  As required
• Baking powder:  1/8th teaspoon
• Baking soda:  1/8th teaspoon
• Salt:  To taste

Procedure

1)Soak the fine semolina (Fine Rawa) using 2 tablespoons of warm milk for 10 minutes.2)Take the ghee in the mixing bowl. Add the powdered sugar to it and beat it with the whisk till light and fluffy.3)Add the baking powder, baking soda and salt to the whole wheat flour.4)Then add the whole wheat flour, nachani flour and the soaked semolina or rawa to the ghee and sugar mixture. Mix well.

5)Add the cardamom powder and mix everything with hands till it comes together.6)Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of milk and mix till the smooth dough is formed. DO NOT KNEAD.7)Cover the dough in a cling wrap and refrigerate it for 40- 45 min.8)Remove the dough after 45 minutes. Make small balls with about a tablespoon of the dough.

9)Place the cookie balls on the baking sheet and flatten them slightly. Put a piece of cashew-nut on each cookie.

10) Bake in a preheated oven at 170° C for about 20 minutes.