Again one of my favorite childhood tea time snack… Nankhatai also known as Indian shortbread cookies or biscuits. There are many variants of Nankhatai but here i have tried the easiest one made mainly with flour, sugar and ghee. In this recipe i have added a lil gram flour (besan) and semolina (suji) also.
I have grown up seeing my mom baking these sweet goodies for us in those old fashioned ovens where racks and racks of mouth melting nankhatais were baked. Today though we don’t have those assets but still i tried baking some to satisfy my sweet urge. Nankhatais came out crisp from outside and soft and khasta from inside… an absolute yummy goodie !
Prep Time | 10 minutes |
Cook Time | 20 minutes |
Servings |
piece
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- 1 1/2 cup maida all purpose flour or
- 1/2 tsp besan gram flour or
- 1/4 tsp suji
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup ghee butter or at room temperature
- 3/4 cup sugar powdered
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- / almonds few slicedpowdered for garnishing
- 1 to 2 tsp milk water or for kneading (if required)
Ingredients
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- In a large bowl/tray add the dry ingredients - maida or all purpose flour, gram flour/besan, suji, cardamom powder and baking soda and keep aside.
- In a grinder add sugar and powder it finely.
- Now add ghee in the powdered sugar and blend it well it u get a creamy texture. You may use hand blender or can even do in the grinder.
- Now mix the creamy mixture into the dry ingredients and knead them all together to make a smooth and soft dough.
- You may use little milk or water to knead the dough only if required.
- 6. Set aside the dough for 1-2 hrs.
- 7. Now with your palm pinch a small part of the dough and make a round ball. Flatten the ball by pressing gently with your hand.
- Make cross slit with the help of a knife or tooth pick on it and garnish with almond powder.
- By repeating the same process make rest of the cookies and keep aside.
- Place the cookies in a baking tray.
- Keep some distance between them as they expand while baking.
- Bake the Nankhatai in a pre heated oven at 200 degree C for around 20-25mins till light brown.
- Remove and place them on wire racks for few mins.
When cooled store the Nankhatais in a air tight jar and serve as a tea time snack.