Quinoa CCC Cookies

This summer, I spent couple weeks with my parents in India and fortunately I celebrated Mother’s Day in-person after almost 12 years. Since I was around, I asked my Mum for any special requests and she immediately gave me a brief (pretty sure she has been thinking about this since I informed her my travel schedule) jotted down on a sticky note - create a sweet treat using Quinoa, Whole Wheat Flour, Jaggery and Chocolate. Phew! Someone has been watching Masterchef Mystery Box Challenges…

Based on the brief and incorporating my favorite coffee and cardamom flavor combo - I made these indulgent cookies that are hard to eat just one. The pops of quinoa, the aroma from cardamom and the melty chocolate and caramel bits make these delightful accompaniment with morning coffee… although I have seen my partner sneak a few while working late night! By using vegan butter and chocolate, you can totally keep it vegan and by using your go-to gluten free flour blend you can make it GF too!

*Note: CCC here stands for - Coffee, Caramel and Cardamom

Ingredients (about 25-26 medium or 17-18 large cookies)

Dry Ingredients
230g Whole Wheat Flour (spelt flour will be great too)
1.5 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt (or fine sea salt)
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Ground Cardamom

Wet Ingredients
115g Unsalted Butter, softened at room temperature (substitute with Vegan Butter)
95g Coconut Sugar or Light Brown Sugar (subsitute with 80g Jaggery and increase Caster Sugar by 15g)
50g Caster Sugar or Powdered Sugar (alternatively pulse granulated sugar in food processor for 30-60 seconds)
2 tbsp Flaxmeal (ground flaxseed) whisked with 5 tbsp Tepid Water and rested for 15-20 mins
2 tbsp Instant Coffee Powder/Granules
2 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract

Filling
175g Cooked Quinoa, at room temperature
75g Sea Salt Caramel Chips (substitute with White Chocolate Chips)
130g 60% Dark Chocolate Chips or Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

Directions
🍪 Whisk all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, using electric whisk cream butter and both sugars until pale and a bit fluffy. Add coffee, vanilla and continue whisking until combined and fluffier - about 2 more minutes

🍪 Add half quantity of flax meal mixture and continue whisking until it’s combined and starts to look glossy and a bit voluminous. Add remaining mixture and whisk until everything is well combined. Now gradually sift and fold in half quantity of dry ingredients into the large bowl until no floury spots remain. Fold in remaining dry ingredients gently until a homogeneous dough is formed

🍪 Transfer all filling ingredients straight into the large bowl, gently fold and mix everything to form the cookie dough. Refrigerate for 30-40 mins and begin pre-heating oven to 195C/375F during that time. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment / oven safe silicone mat

🍪 Once chilled, using a medium or large size ice cream scoop portion out cookie dough on the lined sheet. Make sure to keep them at least 1/2” apart (optional - using wet hands feel free to smooth out the tops). Bake for 15-16 mins, transfer onto a cooling rack and devour in 3-4 mins while it’s still a bit warm. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for upto a week. Or else refrigerate upto a month - just bake at 375F (straight from the fridge) for 5-7 mins before consuming.