Amaranth Spice Cookies are a perfect choice to satisfy sweet tooth in a nutritious way. These Amaranth cookies are high in protein and fiber. And they are so crispy and delicious!
Amaranth flour! What is it? Amaranth is an ancient grain filled with protein and amino acids, perfect to include in a healthy diet.This is my second recipe using Amaranth flour. I also made Rajgira – Gluten Free Shortbread cookies.
Besides Amaranth, I’ve been trying other non-traditional flours this year. For example, I used almond flour in the best gluten free cookies. Then I made these delicious quinoa chocolate chip cookies. This time I am on my third bag of amaranth flour! Because this amazing flour makes super delicious cookies! I don’t know why I haven’t used it before. Well, no more store-bought treats for me this year thanks to Amaranth!
How does amaranth flour cookie dough work?
Well, amaranth flour cookie dough won’t win any gluten free cookie dough beauty contests. It’s simply not one of the most attractive things in the baking world. It’s unattractive dark brown in color and slimy in texture. This is how I work with the amaranth flour cookie dough.
- First, make sure to use parchment paper to make these amaranth flour cookies. Otherwise the bottom of the cookies will get stuck to the cookie sheet. Parchment paper makes things so much easier. Trust me – I know it because I made a mistake of not using a parchment paper first time I made these cookies.
- Next, I form 18 cookies by spooning them onto the baking sheet. They will be slimy, oily, and not very attractive – but that’s OK.
- Keep in mind that while the dough is runny, it should still hold its shape as shown in the picture below. If it doesn’t, add 1 tablespoon of additional amaranth flour at a time. Do not add more than 2 tablespoons.
- These spicy amaranth cookies also don’t look good at all at this point. But don’t let that discourage you. Just like ugly ducklings they will turn into beautiful amaranth swans in about 8 minutes!
- Depending on the type of cookie sheet these spice cookies will bake for 8 to 10 minutes. If it’s enameled cookie sheet, you will bake them for about 8 minutes. But if it’s a metal one – about 9-10 minutes.
- Below is the picture of the slimy and not very pretty raw cookies right before the go into the oven.
But what follows is the transformation of the ugly ducklings into the pretty swans:
Can I use less sugar for these amaranth flour cookies
Yes you can. I’ve used 1/4 cup and even 1/8 cup of brown sugar to make these spice cookies.
Can I make these amaranth cookies spicier?
You can and you should! Double up on the spices and use more! I recommend 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cardamom and 2 tsp ginger powder to create the most aromatic amaranth cookies! By the way, you can also use cardamom or coriander.
If you have never tried amaranth this is your chance to fall in love with this super food grain.
Amaranth Spice Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup Olive Oil
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2/3 cup amaranth flour (batter should be spoonable)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1/8 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Add olive oil and egg - whisk together in the a small ceramic bowl. Next add brown sugar and mix well. Add lemon zest and spices.
- Slowly add amaranth flour, baking soda and salt into the mixture.
- Using a table spoon, add cookie dough on top of the parchment paper (see picture inside the post ). You will have 16 to 18 small cookies.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes and remove from the cooking sheet within 5 minutes after done.
How well do these keep? I’m having someone with lots of dietary restrictions over for dinner this weekend, and have to do as much early prep as possible. These will work great if I can make them well ahead of time.
They keep beautifully! I keep them on the kitchen counter and eat a couple a day.
Xan the brown sugar be replaced with honey or maple syrup?
Absolutely!
These are DELICIOUS! I decreased the sugar and kicked up the spices a bit because that’s how we like it in my house–these are now our favorite Winter Solstice cookies. Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I love these cookies’ ‘Ugly Duckling’ transformation as well. 🙂
Winter solstice cookies is a fantastic name! They are truly ugly ducklings, aren’t they?
Can i use the powder egg replacer?
It should work in proportion to the recipe.
Tried the recipe. and it came out dry wasn’t runny or what the pic look like what did I do wrong folliwed instructions
What kind of sugar did you use?
kunjal desai
Hi ! What can be the substitute for Egg
You can use probably an egg replacer, even though I personally have not tried it in this recipe.
Hi, I tried this recipe today and the cookies were marvellous! Thank you!
Thank you so much! Amaranth flour is under appreciated.
Hi!
Can I use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar?
Yes!
hello. canwe substitute lemon zest for orange zest?
Yes, perfect substitute!
Can you use applesauce in place of an egg?
It won’t work to keep the cookies crisp. So even though applesauce will hold the cookies together, the difference in texture will be noticeable.