BASIC COOKIE RECIPE

Cookies are the all time favorites for every one. These soft mouth melting baked munchies can be had at any time. Cookies are no different to Biscuits. Biscuits are the more commercial form of cookies. Both are the same except the cookies, in general, are much more softer than biscuits and are freshly baked in homes. Of course there are crunchy and harder  cookies also. Biscuits are double baked cookies on commercial lines.
As a child I have always watched my Mom baking the cookies. Those were the days when we don’t have a oven in our house. My Mom used to heat sand in a pan and then place the cookie baking dish on it and baked them till golden brown. The same way she used to bake the cakes also. That was a tedious process. But now I have a oven, so it became very easy baking the cookies.
Cookies are generally made with the plain white flour, but now a days they are being made with a wide variety of different flours to make them healthy. Oats, oat flour, ragi flour, Wheat flour, chickpea flour etc are used in different ratios to bake different cookies. Different kinds of nuts, dry fruits, essences, chocolates, butters, spices are added in different proportions to make different cookies.
Here I give a simple basic cookie recipe. You can make variations to this recipe by adding nuts or chocolate chips. This recipe is very easy, give it a try.  
INGREDIENTS

• Maida                   2 cups
• Sugar powder       1+1/4 cups
• Butter                  3/4 cup
• Baking powder     1 tsp
• Baking soda          1/4 tsp

PROCEDURE
Sift the maida, sugar, baking powder and baking soda.
Use the room temperature butter. Don’t substitute ghee for butter.
Mix in the sift mixture and butter to form a dough. Knead the dough to make it very soft. (The consistency should be that of the puri dough) If you are not able to make a dough add a tablespoon of milk.
After making the dough divide it into small portions and make small rounds. Do not flatten them( cookies flatten while baking). Refrigerate them for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit  and bake the cookies for about 20 to 25 minutes.
When you feel the sweet aroma and the edges of the cookies turn brown remove from the oven.
The cookies will be still soft, don’t panic. They harden once cooled.
Here I have used cashews on the top as a decoration. Press the nuts of your choice on the cookies before baking.

TIPS

• The cookies melt in your mouth if the  you knead the dough for 10 minutes.
• If you want the cookies to be crispy and dome shaped, try using less butter. This way you will have cookies which remain fluffy and not flat.  
• Remove the cookies immediately once the edges turn slightly brown.
• Refrigeration of the pre baked cookies is an important step. The cookies melt away in your mouth with this small step.
• Cookies are soft initially after removing from the oven, they harden once cooled.
• I normally refrigerate the round dough patties before baking. Alternatively you can refrigerate the whole dough, remove it and make the patties and bake them.
• Don’t use water in any situation. Use milk if you are to use.