Chewy on the inside while crisp on the outside and topped with a heavenly fig filling, these delicious vegan chai flavored cookies are the perfect way to add a little cultural influence to your holiday table and your Christmas cookie baking party this year.

While it is always comforting about sticking to the tried and tested in the kitchen, there is something equally exciting and exotic trying out something new and unique, don’t you think? Indian Chai blends have been taking the world by storm for many years now and while nothing beats a good cup of masala chai or tea infused with chai spices, adding the same chai spices to things like breads, ice creams and cookies are just as delicious.

These chai flavored cookies filled with a unique fig filling adds a twist to the traditional old-fashioned Christmas baking that has already started in many households all across the world as we prep for one of the most celebrated holidays around the world. Paula Saalfeld shows us how being a little unique with your food is always a great idea!

From Paula,

Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves and nutmeg come together to create an incredibly aromatic spice chai blend that creates a comforting cookie, which pairs perfectly with a hot cup of tea on these colder and darker days. The molasses and the fig add the perfect chewy texture that is synonymous with the Christmas cookies from our childhood. The surprising flavor of the mild spice of the chai and the sweetness of the figs comes together perfectly in these cookies that are super easy to make.These golden chai cookies are also vegan so they have universal appeal and can make a perfect gift for even the most difficult person to shop for this holiday season.

Golden Vegan Chai Flavored Cookies With Juicy Fig Filling – Recipe

Ingredients


• 4-5 big dried figs (or any other dried fruit you prefer)
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
• 1/3 cup molasses
• chai spice mixture + a pinch of salt
  (1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp dried ginger, 1/2 tsp cardamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp nutmeg)
-> adjust the amounts if you like it more spicy
• 1/4 cup apple sauce
• 8 tbsp plant milk
• 2 cups spelt flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• a splash of lemon juice
• salt

Instructions


1. Place the figs in a bowl and cover them with hot water.
2. Preheat oven to 190°C/ 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Combine coconut sugar, -oil, molasses, chai spices, apple sauce and plant milk.
4. Gradually add flour and baking powder trough a sieve
5. Combine until mixture starts to come together as a dough. Maybe switch to using your hands and add more flour if the dough is too sticky. It should form a ball.
6. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or longer.
7. Carefully roll dough mixture into 16 uniform balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
8. Press a thumbprint into the center of each ball to make space to add the fig filling.
9. Bake cookies at 190°C/ 375°F for about 10 minutes.
10. Remove them from the oven and gently press thumb back into indentation if necessary.
11. Allow them to cool and harden for 10 minutes.
12. Drain the figs and blend them with lemon juice and salt until it forms a jam type consistency. Add a little water if needed.
13. Fill each thumbprint indentation with the fig mixture.
14. Enjoy with a cup of chai or even as is.

Video Tutorial For Chai Flavored Cookies

For more details on how to make these delicious chewy chai flavored cookies, check out this video tutorial from Paula.

{Words and photos by Paula Saalfeld, Instagram: @plantifultaste }

Related Reading