Elaichi Nankhatai / Cardamom Cookies

Nankhatais are Indian Style cookies which are crisp but just crumble in the mouth and melts down.
A perfect tea time snack.There are various flavours like Kesar Pista(Pistachio-Saffron),Badam(Almonds) or simple plain nankhatais which taste heavenly.
This is my first try at nankhatais/cookies.


Preparation Time : 20 mins
Baking Time : 20-25 mins
Makes around 20 cookies

Elaichi Nan Khatai / Cardamom Cookies

 

Ingredients

11/4 cups Maida / All purpose flour (APF)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (soften at room temperature)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
10- 12 cardamom pods/elaichi (de skin and use only the seeds)
10 almonds/badam

Method

• Powder the sugar along with the cardamom seeds.
• Incase,you are using store bought powdered sugar,powder the cardamom seeds and mix it well with the sugar.
• Add the sugar to the butter and beat well,until well blended and slightly frothy. (see image 1)
• Fold in the maida/APF into the butter and mix well to form a soft dough.
• Incase,its too dry,you can add a 2-3 teaspoons of milk and knead into a soft dough.(See image 2)
• Wrap it in a cling film or keep it in a tightly closed container and refrigerate for about 10-15 mins.
• Grease and dust a a baking tray or line the baking tray with parchment paper.
• Pinch out small balls from the dough and place them on the sheet leaving some distance.The dough tends to expand on baking. (See image 3)
• Preheat oven to 180 C / 350F
• Place the baking tray and bake for about 20 mins or until the base turns a light brown and crispy.
• Remove from the oven and cool well before storing.

Step 1 : Sugar Butter mixture

Step 2 - Cookie Dough

  

Step 3 - Ready to go into oven

 

Step 4 : Cooling after Baking

Nankhatais / Cookies Ready