7 Indian Biscuit Recipes to Make and Enjoy

Indian biscuit recipes are a delicious alternative to regular biscuits as some of them include spices for an extra depth of flavour.

Some are also eggless which allows for people with dietary requirements to enjoy them. Even vegans are able to enjoy these types of biscuits.

Indian biscuits are very popular among the Desi community especially as a snack during teatime when they can dip them into hot masala tea.

When it comes to making Indian biscuits, some traditional types such as cookies are given a twist to appeal to South Asian people.

However, they taste so great that they are popular among western people also.

We have seven fantastic Indian biscuit recipes for you to try out which will definitely amaze your tastebuds.

Nankhatai Biscuits

These are a popular Indian shortbread biscuit made with all-purpose flour. It is an eggless sweet and savoury snack to enjoy.

The biscuit originated in Surat, Gujarat and was initially a soft bread cookie but they were not very popular.

The soft bread cookies were dried and sold at a low cost in a bid to improve sales, they became popular and the nankhatai biscuit was born.

They have a slight crunch to it but it has a delicious buttery taste.

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ½ cup icing sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp semolina
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• 10 Pistachios, finely chopped
• A pinch of salt

Method

1. Place the butter into a large mixing bowl and add the sugar. Use a whisk to beat for 15 minutes or until smooth.
2. Add the flour, semolina, baking soda, cardamom powder and salt. Mix well until it forms a dough. Knead until smooth.
3. Make small balls and flatten with your hand. Top with a few pistachios and press gently.
4. Place the biscuits onto a tray and into an oven preheated at 180°C. Bake for 15 minutes or until they turn slightly golden.
5. Remove from the oven and allow the biscuits to cool completely on a wire rack.
6. When completely cool, serve or store in an airtight container.

This recipe was inspired by Hebbar’s Kitchen.

Atta Biscuits

Atta biscuits are a popular tea time snack in India. Flavoured with cardamom and nutmeg, this Indian biscuit tastes great when dipped in tea.

The biscuits absorb the flavours from the masala tea for even more flavour.

They are very easy to make as very few ingredients are required to make them. Eggs, baking powder and soda are not needed to make them.

Even though there are not many ingredients, the result is a crispy and tasty biscuit.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• ½ cup ghee, melted
• ½ cup granulated white sugar
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 4 tbsp milk
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C and line two baking trays with baking paper. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cardamom, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the ghee with the sugar until well combined. Add the milk and mix.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in batches.
5. Use your hands to mix everything into a dough. Cover the bowl and place into the fridge for 20 minutes.
6. Remove from the fridge and evenly roll out. If the dough starts to break, add a little milk.
7. When the dough is rolled out, use a cookie cutter to cut pieces a quarter inch thick. Keep rolling and cutting biscuits until all the dough has been used.
8. Place the biscuits onto the trays and bake for 25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack and serve.

This recipe was inspired by Cook with Manali.

Khari Biscuits

Khari biscuits are simple puff pastry bites that many people assume that they only taste great in bakeries.

However, making them at home can be more authentic as you are in control of the ingredients. Following the right steps will also result in delicious biscuits.

The gluten, vinegar and margarine are essential to get the right texture which is layers of crispy and light pastry.

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1½ tsp vinegar
• 1½ tsp gluten powder
• ¾ cup margarine
• 1 cup ice cold water
• Plain flour, for dusting

Method

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, vinegar and gluten. Mix well and knead into a firm dough using water. Knead for 15 minutes on a dry surface until smooth.
2. Dust a flat surface and roll the dough into a rectangle. Evenly spread the margarine onto two-thirds of the rectangle.
3. Fold the side with no margarine then fold the other side until it overlaps. Seal the two open sides.
4. Dust the surface and roll the dough out again. Fold over the sides again and seal.
5. Repeat a few times. After, fold both sides over but do not overlap. Overlap the two folded sides over each other then wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
6. Remove the cling film and cut horizontally in half. Dust the surface and roll one half into a rectangle. Cut into eight pieces. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
7. Place the pieces on a baking tray and bake at 180°C for 25 minutes. Lower the heat to 160°C and bake for a further 25 minutes.
8. Once done, let them cool slightly and serve warm.

This recipe was adapted from Tarla Dalal.

Jeera Biscuits

What makes this Indian biscuit taste great is the fact that there is cumin throughout.

As you take a bite, there is a slight crunch of the biscuit but the taste of cumin is obvious.

It has quite a refreshing and earthy taste but the flavour is not too overpowering.

Not only is there the flavour of cumin but the biscuits also taste slightly sweet and salty to provide a wide spectrum of flavours.

Ingredients

• 100g butter, softened
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 100g plain flour
• 1 Egg
• ½ tsp baking powder
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Meanwhile, add butter and caster sugar into a bowl and whisk.
2. In another bowl, whisk an egg and add half of it to the butter and sugar mixture.
3. Dry roast the cumin seeds in a frying pan and add to the butter mixture along with the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well into a dough then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Dust a flat surface with flour and place the dough onto it. Knead until smooth.
5. Roll the dough out until it is around a quarter inch thick. Use a round cutter to cut the biscuits.
6. Place the biscuits on a baking paper-lined tray and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
7. Remove from the fridge and place into the oven for 20 minutes. Serve once they have cooled completely.

This recipe was inspired by Sanjeev Kapoor.

Eggless Chocolate Chip & Honey Cookies

While chocolate chip cookies are usually associated with America, this recipe does not use eggs which is something that Indian cuisine involves.

Because a lot of the population are strictly vegetarian, some avoid eating eggs or food containing eggs. This recipe is ideal for them.

These cookies provide a contrast of flavours as the subtle bitterness of the chocolate chips go well with the sweet honey.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup butter, at room temperature
• ¼ cup powdered caster sugar
• 2 tsp honey
• 2 tbsp chocolate chips, chopped
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the flour, sugar, honey and vanilla into a bowl and mix. Gradually add the butter and knead to form a dough.
2. Place the bowl in the fridge for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove from the fridge, form eight small balls and flatten them.
3. Add the chocolate chips on top and gently press. Grease a baking tray with butter and place the cookies on it.
4. Place the tray in the oven and bake for 12 minutes.
5. Once done, let the cookies cool down completely. Serve or store in an airtight container.

This recipe was inspired by Archana’s Kitchen.

Hyderabadi Chand Biscuits

One of the most unique Indian biscuits and it is all down to the shape. The biscuits are a half moon shape and are very popular in Hyderabad.

As opposed to other biscuits, these are quite soft but the texture is one that the tastebuds will enjoy.

These melt in the mouth biscuits are perfect alongside a cup of masala tea or Punjabi style espresso coffee.

Ingredients

• 200g all-purpose flour
• 125g unsalted butter
• 75g powdered sugar
• 10g milk powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of baking powder

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together the butter and sugar.
2. Add the flour, milk powder, baking powder, salt and vanilla. Mix until it begins to form a dough, crumble it then form into a dough.
3. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a thin sheet and cut into crescents.
4. Transfer the biscuits on to a baking tray and cook for 20 minutes or until they start to go golden.
5. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely before serving.

This recipe was inspired by Archana’s Kitchen.

Coconut Cookies

These freshly baked cookies are worth trying out as they boast a wonderful coconut flavour.

The coconut flakes are present throughout the cookies which means that in every bite, there are pieces of coconut which add another level of texture.

It is an eggless recipe which is fairly simple to make and uses just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cups desiccated coconut
• 1 tbsp milk
• 3 drops of vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking powder

Method

1. Preheat the oven at 180°C. Meanwhile, sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl.
2. In another bowl, beat together the sugar and butter until creamy and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and coconut then mix well.
3. Mix in the dry ingredients. Add the milk if the mixture looks dry. Knead into a dough until it becomes firm.
4. Line a baking tray with baking paper and divide the dough into 22 small balls. Flatten the balls into patties. Place onto a baking tray and cook for 18 minutes until the edges turn golden brown.
5. Once done, remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

This recipe was inspired by Food Viva.

These Indian biscuit recipes promise wonderful tastes and textures for different preferences.

While some are traditional Indian biscuits which are popular in some regions, others have an Indian twist.

These step-by-step guides will ensure that it will be simple to make these biscuits. Give them a go!