Try These Yummy, Healthy Millet And Ginger Cookies

The festive season is upon us and the good tidings tell us that you have finally earned the license to indulge. Christmas is as much about plum cakes, mince pies, chicken roasts, and mulled wine, as it is about the delicious Christmas cookies. Most of these cookies make use of winter spices such as ginger and cinnamon, that give these cookies the necessary punch. Now gingerbread cookies are commonplace, but here’s why you should give these millet and ginger cookies by Executive Chef Arvind, from The Ashok Hotel, a try this year. 

As many of you may know, the United Nations has declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millet’ (IYOM). While all-purpose flour is the first choice for cookies, biscuits and crackers, it must be understood that they are not healthy for you, especially, if you are planning to keep no count of cookies you tuck into. On the contrary, millet, like ragi, is filled with fibre that helps fill you up (hence, binge-eating is out of the question), it is also a decent source of calcium, iron, and magnesium. Ragi is being seen as an excellent baking substitute for baked goods such as cakes, galettes and tarts too.  

This easy-peasy recipe is a fitting tribute to the International Year of Millets as well as your health, here’s the recipe you have been looking for.

Ingredients: 

  • 500 gm finger millet flour (ragi)  
  • 200 gm pearl millet flour (bajra) 
  • 50 gm finger millet seeds  
  • 500 gm butter  
  • 250 gm breakfast sugar 
  • 50 ml milk 
  • 25 gm ginger powder 
  • 5 gm baking powder 
  • Caramel colour

Method: 

  • Take a mixing bowl and put together butter and sugar. 
  • Slowly add the milk and make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl, so that all the ingredients are uniformly mixed. 
  • Combine millet flour, baking and ginger powder. 
  • Add the flour mix, roasted finger millet and caramel colour to the mixing bowl and mix until you have combined dough. 
  • Flatten out slightly then wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before rolling. 
  • Preheat the oven 175°C. 
  • To make the cookies, roll out the dough and cut it to the desired shape. 
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes until getting the desired colour. 
  • Cool the cookies and decorate them, as required with royal icing.