Recipe- Kids Favorite Nankhatai

Nankatai are melt in mouth, flavorful, eggless Indian biscuits or shortbread cookies prepared using just 5 ingredients.The bakery near our house had one of the best nankhatai and whenever we had guests visiting our house, this would be our common tea time snack because it’s loved by all. Nobody can stop eating just one. So we always get it in large numbers.

Serve it as a snack with a cup of coffee or tea or as a sweet after lunch or dinner. This is a very good and simple recipe to make at home for any special occasions or festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Diwali, Holi or even give it as gift for Raksha Bandhan or Christmas.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour or Maida
3/4 tsp Baking soda
3/4 cup Fine sugar
1/4 tsp Cardamom powder
1/8 tsp Salt (Optional)
2/3 cup Vegetable shortening (also known as dalda)

Method

* In a bowl add flour, baking soda, sugar, cardamom powder, salt and mix.

* Now add shortening and mix to form the dough. Note that I have not added any water for the dough.

* Vegetable shortening binds everything together. Cover it and keep this aside for atleast 30 minutes.

* Preheat the oven for 300 degree F / 148 degree C.

* Form 16 golf size balls from the dough and place it in a baking tray lined with parchment paper, at least 1 inch apart.

* Bake it for about 30 to 35 minutes or until cracks are formed on the top and it becomes light golden at the bottom.

* Allow it to cool down for about 10 – 15 minutes.

* Nankhatai is now ready. Serve with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy.