Cookies for me is a difficult case. I am always searching for the perfect one. I have tried a lot of recipes but few came up to my expectations. The most of them was just not “interesting”. They lacked tastiness or they lacked the most important thing for me about a cookie, the “thing” that makes you unable to eat just one. I don’t know what this is but I always expect it when I try a new recipe. Someone would say that is the butter or the sugar that makes that happen and I will agree up to a point. Butter cookies are almost always tasty and addictive. But! Not all the cookies that are addictive have the butter as an ingredient and on the other hand all the cookies have sugar, addictive or not. So I don’t know!
The only thing I know for sure is that these chocolate, almond and cinnamon cookies are crispy, fragrant, delicious and definitely have the “thing”!!!. They are totally addictive!!!
When I was taking the photos for this post the aroma of chocolate and cinnamon was so intense that it was almost difficult for me to work. It brought memories back and made me feel like a child again. I recently read that certain aromas “can do wonders for your well-being” as the title of the article says. One of them is cinnamon. A whiff of it can sharpen your mind according to this article. I hope it helped me taking good photos. It certainly made my mood better.
As most of the cookies, they are easy to prepare too. You only need a stand mixer or a hand mixer and a little time. If you don’t have a mixer a big bowl, a whisk and a wooden spatula can do the job. Chocolate sprinkles are added to the dough for chocolaty flavor as almond gives crispiness and a nutty, peppery taste. Orange and cinnamon do their magic and enrich these amazing cookies with their unique aromas. I used milk chocolate sprinkles but if you want them to be dairy free you can use dark chocolate sprinkles. Whatever you like.
I don’t think is necessary to mention that is not only a delicious cookie but also a very healthy one. It is obvious enough for everyone that takes a quick look at the ingredients. Almond, cinnamon, orange, chocolate and no butter. What more can I say?
Now that school has started again I am sure that a recipe for an easy and healthy cookie is something that all mothers will appreciate. As the rest of us this little treat is what we need with a hot cup of coffee as the winter is nearby.
Chocolate, almond and cinnamon cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil (I used corn oil)
- 1 orange, only the juice
- 2 teaspoons of cognac or orange liqueur
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 scant teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate sprinkles
- 1 cup ground almonds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer beat sugar and vegetable oil until well combined about 4-5 minutes.
Add the orange juice and the liqueur.
Beat in the flour, a spoonful at a time.
Add the cinnamon and the vanilla extract.
Continue with chocolate sprinkles and ground almond.
Add baking powder.
Put the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven at 150°C.
Roll the dough into small balls (size of a walnut).
Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow some space between each other because they spread while baking.
Bake for 25 minutes.