The Recipe
Makes: 10 x 80g cookies
Preparation: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 12-15 minutes
Inspired by a warming cup of champurrado, a warming thick and creamy drink made with corn (masa harina)
Credit @thewholekitchen
I was honoured to be featured as a guest chef to create a gluten free cookie recipe for The Whole Kitchen in Singapore. I created a chocolate cookie speckled with macadamia nuts with a dash of vanilla and cinnamon. The main base flour for the cookie is masa harina (dough flour), a flour commonly used in Latin America to make tortillas, arepas, and tamales.
Masa harina is made from dried corn that is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution (calcium hydroxide), rinsed, and then ground into flour. This process is called nixtamilisation, which has been practiced in the Americas from as early 12,000 BC, allowing the corn to be digested easily as well as enriching it with niacin and calcium. It is a truly unique flavour that brings back many memories of when I lived in Mexico.
The flavour of the cookie is based on one of my favourite Mexican drinks called champurrado, a thick hot chocolate drink made with masa harina, chocolate, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. The addition of macadamia nuts is that little injection of my heritage as they are indigenous to Australia.
INGREDIENTS
150g unsalted butter (room temperature)
150g coconut sugar/gula melaka sugar
1 medium egg (50g)
2g/ 0.5 tsp bicarb soda
180g masa harina
30g tapioca flour
80g cocoa powder
1tsp cinnamon powder
pinch of salt
1tsp vanilla extract
180g salted macadamia nuts, roughly chopped.
METHOD
Oven at 180’Celsius
2. Mix the butter, sugar and vanilla until nice and creamy.
3. Add in the egg and continue mixing
4. Mix in the sifted flour, cinnamon, bicarb soda and cocoa until combined
5. Finally, mix through the macadamia nuts until evenly dispersed in the mixture
6. Measure and roll out cookie dough into 80g balls.
7. Slightly flatten into discs (2cm thick) and spread out on a non-stick baking tray.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, allow to cool slightly before turning them out onto a cooling rack.
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