Eggless cookies studded with lots of candies fruit, Karachi Biscuits are delicious and easy to make! Melt in the mouth cookies that are great with some Masala Chai!
Christmas is around the corner. The season of festivities, decorating the home and tree, lights, hot chocolate and of course cookies. I love this festive month, look forward to cookie baking each year!
This year I decided to bake my favorite cookies to start with. For the longest time I have been a fan of Karachi Biscuits or cookies that are full of tutti-frutti. Candied pieces of papaya, tutti-frutti is popularly used in many baked recipes to add flavor, sweetness and a pop of color!
These cookies are super easy to make, eggless and really delicious. Made with just a few ingredients; these cookies are just like the ones from the popular Karachi bakery in Hyderabad, India.
I have made these cookies several times and have LOVED it each time. From super thin to 1/4 inch thick, I tried all of them. Plus, adding some saffron a couple of times, some cardamom or changing the flavor of custard powder, I did it all. Finally, I ended up with this recipe and have been following it for a really long time.
How to make PERFECT cookies each time
Having baked it several times, I can say this recipe works really well. There are just a couple of points to keep in mind to ensure they turn out perfect.
The MOST common failure in cookies is the spreading of the dough. I have ended up with one single cookie of the size of the tray instead of several small ones. I completely understand how frustrating it is to see cookies lose their shape.
To ensure that does not happen, make sure the dough and baking tray are cold. The reason for spreading of the dough is melting butter. To ensure that does not happen, chill the dough before baking. Plus, it is a great idea to chill the baking tray before baking cookies of any kind. And NEVER put cookies to bake on a warm tray. That calls for failure for sure!
Love cookies? Her are a few I have shared on the blog over the last few years:
Variations
The only important ingredients in this recipe are flour, sugar, milk and butter. Everything else can be customized based on preference.
First, the custard powder. I love vanilla flavored powder but use your favorite flavor. The flavor does depend on the flavor as it is used a lot in the recipe.
Then comes the extracts. Using a combination of Vanilla and Orange works well for me but pineapple flavor is great too. Using a single fruity flavor is a great idea too. And yes, if you want to add just vanilla extract, you can do that too!
Last, the tutti-frutti. While these are easily available fro Amazon or other stores in the Holiday season, there are a few variations that can be used. Many stores sell a Holiday mix this time of the year. That works really well in the recipe too. Just drain any liquid that is in the jar before adding to the recipe. Else, nuts like slivered almonds and cashews work well in the recipe. Add some extra sugar if you are adding just nuts. It is required to make it perfect.
Love cooking and baking recipes? Join us on Facebook to see recipes from bloggers and food lovers!
| |||||
Ingredients
Unsalted Butter 1/2 cup
Milk 1/4 cup
Salt a pinch
Method
In a bowl sieve together flour, custard powder and salt. Set aside.
In the base of a stand mixer add room temperature butter. Using a paddle attachment cream the butter. Once it is creamy, add the sugar. Beat again till fluffy.
Now add the dry ingredients and mix till the flours are combined. Once it is evenly mixed, add the tutti frutti.
Incorporate the tutti frutti but do not beat too much else they will disintegrate.
Transfer the dough to a silicone mat. Divide into two parts and roll each part into a log.
Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate. The dough needs to rest atleast 3-4 hours. I refrigerated it overnight.
Once the dough has rested, remove from the plastic wrap. Meanwhile preheat oven to 350 F/ 180 C.
Line two trays with parchment paper. Using a sharp knife cut the log into 1/4 inch slices. I could make 30 cookies using the measurement.
Arrange the cookies on the tray, leaving atleast 2 inches around it. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Once the cookies are brown on the bottom, remove from the oven. They will become a little darker on removing from the oven.
Cool on a cooling rack. Once cool, transfer to an airtight container. Enjoy with Masala chai or a glass of milk.
No comments:
Post a Comment