Rangoli Cookies are spiced sugar cookies with rangoli designs piped with royal icing. Make them for Diwali or any other special occasion!
Happy Diwali everyone! I almost did not make this post since it is a holiday and I really should not be sitting at a computer editing photos and writing. However, I could not resist sharing my latest treats with you. So, I will keep this post short and sweet. Here are some festive Diwali rangoli cookies I made this week.
The icing designs are inspired by rangoli, an Indian folk art popular during Diwali and other auspicious occasions. Rangoli is usually painted on doorsteps with colored flour. The designs are mostly symmetrical geometric shapes and are also often inspired by things in nature. It is meant as a decoration, to bring good luck, and welcome visitors.
For myself, I expressed the art form on a cookie...
I made these rangoli cookies using a recipe from Aparna at My Diverse Kitchen. Her cookie is completely eggless! I thought this was perfect for the holiday since many of our friends and family do not eat eggs. The only change I made to the recipe was to add a quarter teaspoon each of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Top them off with this easy icing recipe.
For more Diwali sweet recipes you might also want to try this White Chocolate Bark or the more traditional Gujiya.
Eggless Spiced Sugar Cookies
Eggless sugar cookies perfect for decorating rangoli designs. Recipe adapted from My Diverse Kitchen
Ingredients
Basic Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-5 tablespoons milk
Egg Free Royal Icing (makes 4 cups)
- ½ cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2-3 teaspoons milk
- food coloring
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- In an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the milk and vanilla and beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg, baking powder and salt. Add this to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. if the dough seems crumbly add another teaspoon of milk.
- Roll the dough out to ¼ inch thick rectangle and chill for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Cut the cookies into squares or use a cookie cutter shape.
- Place the cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 10-20 minutes until golden on the edges.
- Let them cool for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a cooling rack.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container until you are ready to decorate.
Royal Icing
- Add the sugar to a medium sized bowl along with the lemon juice.
- Add either milk or water 1 teaspoon at a time while stirring. Do this until the mixture becomes smooth and loose but not too loose.
- Divide the icing into the number of bowls of color that you want. Add gel food coloring a drop at a time and mix in each bowl.
- Transfer the icing colors to piping bags or parchment cones.
- Use your imagination to create rangoli designs on your cookies. Let the cookies air dry. The icing will harden.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 52mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
This nutrition information is only an approximate provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. Information comes from Nutritionix, an automated nutrition calculator.
Paula says
Your cookies are beautiful! Love all the colours you chose. Hope you enjoy a lovely Diwali :)
Sonia{7spice} says
Oh Gosh!!! I have never ever seen these kinda cookies! Very innovative idea of Rangoli. Superb! Well done, Uvarshee. :)
Happy Diwali to you and your family!!!
naomi says
These are gorgeous. I just submitted them to Edible Crafts, as she features lots of cookies such a this. Wow-you are such a talented baker!
Aparna says
I've got to tell you that your cookies are drop dead gorgeous! And perfect for the season.
smita says
Absolutely gorgeous... I love the deigns n the bold colors ... truly a treat both for eyes n palate .
GB says
These are amazing! I love what you've done with the icing--wish I had the patience (and steady hand, LOL!)
Patricia Scarpin says
These are so beautiful! I can't even find words to describe them - works of art!
Patricia Torres says
This is simply awesome.. Can I feature this on my blog?? Please let me know!! Thanks so much..
Archana Joshi says
These are so gorgeous !!! Absolutely loved them . Brilliant idea . Will love to try my hand at them this Diwali :)
Rita says
Happy Diwali!
Your rangoli cookies are so colorful and just inspirational. I feel happy just looking at them. I would like to feature them on my website parsicuisine.com if it is all right with you. Same for the choc bark recipe. Let me know. Best wishes, Rita
Nithya at Hungry Desi says
Just came across this as I was looking for Diwali cookies. Beautiful! Happy Diwali!
Btw are you in Hoboken? I think we may have discovered each other on Twitter during Hurricane Sandy too.
Sagar Dalal says
Happy Diwali Chef Urvashee!! Your Rangoli cookies were a masterpeice and we truly enjoyed both looking at them and eating them (eating was slightly more fun!). Thank you for making and sharing your gift for making artistic desserts with us this Diwali.
From, Sagar, Ninder and Avaanki!
nidhi says
Hi Urvashee. Loved the Rangoli cookies. I have linked to them in my post Diwali craft Ideas with a link back to you. Do check it out. Thanks again for this amazing idea.