Easy and flavorful Coconut Cookies that are healthier too as these are made with whole wheat flour, jaggery, desiccated coconut and a few more ingredients.
4tablespoonscoconut oil- you can also use 3 tablespoons coconut oil
1tablespoonsooji- fine variety (rava or cream of wheat), optional
½teaspooncardamom powderor 4 to 5 green cardamoms - crushed in mortar-pestle
¼teaspoondry ginger powder- optional
½cupjaggery powder(organic) or grated/chopped jaggery - 85 grams or add as needed. Swap jaggery with brown sugar, confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) or coconut sugar or palm sugar adding as needed.
2 to 3tablespoonswateror coconut milk, add as required
First take the whole wheat flour and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Stir to mix evenly.
With a spoon or spatula mix very well. Also preheat your oven to 180 degrees C/356 degrees F.
Add coconut oil to the flour and baking soda mixture in the bowl.
Lightly mix the oil with the flour. Instead of coconut oil, you can also use 4 tablespoons of butter or ghee.
Next add fine-textured sooji (optional), cardamom powder and dry ginger powder (optional).
Add the powdered or grated jaggery. Instead of jaggery you can also use brown sugar or confectioner's sugar or palm sugar or coconut sugar.
Mix everything well with your fingertips.
Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Add the water in parts and start mixing with the dough. Depending on the type of flour, you may add less or even more water. I added 3 tablespoons of water. You can also use coconut milk instead of water.
Just mix the cookie ingredients together with your hands and gather to a dough. Don't knead. Lightly mix and form into a dough ball.
Making coconut cookies
Pinch small to medium sized balls from the dough and place on a greased tray.
Press one cashew-halve or almond on each cookie and slightly flatten them while pressing the cashews. Don't flatten too much. You can even skip the nuts and simply flatten directly.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven at 180 degrees C/356 degrees F for 20 to 25 mins till the tops become light golden. The cashews on the top will also become faintly golden.
Since oven temperatures vary, it may takes less or more time. So do keep a check. For convection ovens use the pre heating and baking temperature of 170 degrees C/338 degrees F.
Once baked, after 2 to 3 minutes, remove them from the tray and keep on a wire rack for cooling. Use a flat spatula for removing the cookies from the tray.
When cooled at room temperature, store them in an air-tight jar. Serve eggless coconut cookies as a tea time cookie.
Notes
Instead of water you can use light coconut milk (thin coconut milk) or any plant based milk.
Opt to use grated fresh coconut if you prefer. But roast/toast for a few minutes on a skillet or pan, until the moisture is reduced. Remember not to brown the coconut.
You can also double the recipe to make a big batch of these coconut cookies.
For a non plant based recipe, use unsalted butter or ghee for the fat. You can also use milk instead of coconut milk.