Cookies

Coffee Cashew Shortbread with Coffee Chocolate Cream

December 12, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Eating these coffee cashew shortbread/cookies with coffee chocolate cream, is like having a cup of nutty, delicious coffee.

This is definitely one of those addictive cookies that you will love to add to your Christmas baking repertoire, and on your party table! Rich and buttery, with a caramel undertone with the brown sugar, and the cashews in the cookies… it all lends to this completely and utterly delicious cookie. These coffee cashew shortbread/cookies with coffee chocolate cream is a must make….

Pecan Coconut Chocolate Cookies

November 18, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

These pecan coconut chocolate pie cookies are inspired by the famous pecan pie, and they are oh so good.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It’s a perfect early evening, with a glass of apple sangria in hand by the fire place, listening to Al Green.

The weather’s been a bit muggy last week, and it oddly makes me happy. I enjoy bundling up and not moving around in this weather. That’s also maybe because I am a hermit :). It’s finally feeling like the holidays are approaching….

Maple Walnut Pie no-churn Ice Cream Sandwiches with Black Sesame Pizzelles

July 20, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

The maple walnut pie no-churn ice cream cradled in between two crispy black sesame pizzelles are just a perfect match. The mildly sweet cookies compliment the cold, delicious flavors of the ice cream. Perfect for Ice Cream Month or anytime.

When life gives you sesame, make desserts with it.

I might or might not have tried this recipe six times before I decided to post it. The first time I made it, it was the late evening, when the teen and I were watching a movie—Queen of Katwe, to be exact. Both of us have a sweet tooth and both stay up very late in the night, especially during summers. We really don’t have a routine. It’s also funny that we both crave some of the same things at the same time. That evening we craved something light and simple to snack on….

Baked Nippat/ Spiced Cracker with peanuts

June 1, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

These baked Nippat, or spiced crackers, are loaded with peanuts and sesame seeds. Make a huge batch and store in air tight container, and they are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.

The kids are days away from summer break, and I cannot wait.

Indian summers were special. As I open my bedroom double door at a little past 8.00 a.m. to walk onto my balcony, the smell of magnolia hits me. I try to seize the moment. The air has a slight touch of warmth in it. After a brief rendezvous with the smells and sounds of birds, I run in to start the day. Mum has already started off breakfast, but it’s at a more leisure pace than usual. She was on a break too, a two month long break from her work to stay with me on my summer vacation….

Stuffed Shortbread Cookies with Walnut-Fig-Cocoa Halwa/ Kolooche

November 29, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

This is ridiculously delicious and incredibly impressive. What if I said it was ridiculously simple too?

If you’ve followed me along in my food journey, you know very well that I love to create fancy food with a twist. Also, I’m not very picky. I like simple food that has a punch and is pleasing to the eye. I can’t ice cakes, and I can’t decorate fancy cookies. Still, I do love pretty things.

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Pizzelle – Brown Butter – Almond Pizzelle

December 22, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

In the words of my teen…….

It was a dark winter night. There was rain dripping outside, but it was only a pitter-patter. The night was tranquil, and in my room, I felt sluggish. In this mood, I pondered over the question I was asked time and time again. “What do you want for Christmas? Tell me.”

At first I was so irked by that question. But then, thinking about it, I realized I was being unfair. It was a sweet, endearing question that I had rebuffed every single time. On my bed, about to sleep, I thought about that question. A few weeks ago, he had won a $100 Amazon gift card after winning a cricket championship, and without question was spending it on Christmas presents for the family. Without regret, he kept smiling and asking me what I wanted for Christmas.

I sat up and was really in awe. We admonished him for not keeping a secret and even not to bother us much. It was such a selfless thing for someone to do, and after all, he is only 10 years old. Of course, we will love the gifts, but none of us will ever forget the thought and selflessness of this little boy, our baby bear. I’m so proud of my little brother – we all are – who truly has the spirit of giving, the spirit of the holidays within him.

5.0 from 6 reviews

Pizzelles - Brown Butter - Almond Pizzelles

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

3 mins

Total time

8 mins

These crispy thin cookies make great cones for ice cream or sandwich cookies or plain with some tea.

Author: Ash

Serves: 24

Ingredients

4 egg whites at room temperature
⅔ cup coconut sugar or plain white granulated sugar
3-4 drops almond extract(optional)
⅓ tsp vanilla extract
⅓ tsp salt
⅓ cup almond flour
⅓ cup all purpose flour
4 tbsp browned butter or melted butter
Few tbsp of melted butter

Instructions

Preheat the pizzelle maker.
In a mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with sugar, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt. Whip for a minute until lightly frothy.
Add the almond and all purpose flour and the melted butter and mix everything until well combined.
Brush the pizzelle maker with some butter and pour a tbsp of the batter and cover, cook for 3 minutes.
Take it out and put it on a cooling rack. It gets crispier very quick, so if you plan to make a cone, make it immediately before pouring the next batch.
You can store these in an air tight container and stays for long.

Notes

Few Options:
You can make these gluten free by substituting the all purpose flour with coconut flour, buckwheat flour or oat flour. You will be compromising a bit on the taste but not a lot.
Here you can even substitute the butter with coconut oil or vegetable oil. Again the butter is a great flavor inducer.
You can add coconut flakes, chocolate chips, powdered spices, grated orangerind and lemon for the extra flavoring.
Once cool, pack in airtight containers and they stay good for a while.
TIPS TO MAKE A PERFECT PIZZELLE:
Make sure to brush some melted butter on both sides of the griddle before pouring the batter.
Do not pour a lot or a little. A tablespoon is good.
Let the pizzelle heat up and turn to green light before you add another batch of batter. That way it will cook well.
After it cooks, always put it on a cooling rack so that it crisps up.

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Happy Holidays and a Very Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

How is your Prep coming along? Big plans for New Years Eve? Wow it’s almost 2016!!

I am overcome with gratitude and filled with happiness for the support you have shown me over the years. I’ve always loved hearing from you and learning about you. I’m always excited to share a small piece of our lives. Thank you all for reading, and your never-ending kindness and responses.

Thank you. Love and Hugs.

Asha

Cashew Linzer -Sandwich Cookies

December 15, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Sometimes, you have such a great idea that you think you’ve almost won a lottery with it. A few days ago, I had an idea….

Sitting on my dining table, with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and typing in the other. I typed in ‘snowflake cutters’, and there it was at William-Sonoma website. I added it to the bag, quickly forgetting about it, as I had lots to do that day. After a couple of days, I was watching my favorite Vlog on YouTube, when I saw an ad of those same snowflake cutters staring at me. It’s funny how the advertising agencies can monitor all your Internet activities. And, of course, it’s showing me the thing that I wanted to buy. Weird. I finally went ahead and ordered and waited for it for 4 whole days. They came on a Thursday, so pretty and screaming at me to use them soon. My idea: making Lintzer cookies with the snowflake cutter. The bottom cookie would be a round plain one and the top would be this gorgeous snowflake like cookie dusted with powdered sugar and jam peaking through the tiny little cutouts. They looked perfect in my mind. I didn’t see anything like that on Pinterest or anywhere. They definitely are going to be stunning. Oh well, I thought it would be stunning.

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Orange Saffron Madeleines

January 30, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Coming down in the wee hours to a cold room, still not able to open your eyes is something I do look forward to. Smelling coffee beans and brewing a cup of hot coffee hot coffee is refreshing. My neighbor aunt calls to say that there’s a package outside, and that I should pick it up before I leave to pick up the boys. It’s so sweet. A friend just stops by to drop a big bowl of fresh fruits from her garden. Now that can’t be beaten.

The small things make a huge difference. An unexpected action is just a reminder that sometimes the small things do matter.

Cooking is like that right? The small things make a huge difference….

Ka’ak-Sesame Fennel Cookies

December 17, 2014 By Asha Shivakumar

Ka’ak. If you have not heard of them, it’s fine, I did not either until my neighbor dropped off some of them to me. It is a crunchy, bold-flavored wreath-like cookies. I have no reference or any sentimentality towards the cookies, but I must say they have become a favorite of mine since. It’s one of those cookies that has a very grown up taste to it. It looks and tastes very outside the box, sort of savory-ish (if that’s a word). After a bit of pestering and almost stalking her, I managed to get the recipe out of her. On a side note, if you want to protect a family recipe, do not make them for me:).

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PISTACHIO BUTTER COOKIES WITH WALNUTS

December 22, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

Every Christmas was very special as a kid. Dad made it quite memorable for me. It was the festive season, and he made sure it was remembered fondly.

There is a bakery in Bangalore(India), a very famous one, NILGIRIS. They had/have a Christmas Cake Show which showcases beautiful pieces of art which were huge: the TAJ MAHAL, Titanic, Barbie dolls, castles, chariots, sports players,completely made of cake. The cake artists took weeks to mold and remold. There were rows and rows of exhibits. Kids gaped at those wonders and almost wanted to touch it.
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