During Deepavali/Diwali, making Shankarpali/Shakkarpare snacks is very common. They are deep fried biscuits which are crisp with both salty and sweet versions. How about trying baked versions of this famous snack? Baked shankarpali are easy to make and you can change the flavours as you want. Here I have used only butter whereas some people do use vegetable shortening (dalda) which does not contain very healthy fats hence I generally never use it.
These can be made in bulk and 1 cup of all purpose flour yields a lot of biscuits. Just store these biscuits in air tight containers and they last for a few days. The base for both versions is the same. I have illustrated the base for both biscuits and then extended them into their respective flavours.
The sweet version can also be made plain without any nuts but adding almonds-cashews gives them a nice texture and flavour. The salty ones can also be made plain or even ground black pepper can be added in place of ajwain-jeera. The choice is yours! Also try benne biscuit recipe.
- 1 Cup or 120 Gm~ all purpose flour/maida
- 1 Tsp baking powder
- ¼ Tsp baking soda
- ⅔ Cup or 75 Gm powdered/icing sugar
- ¼ Cup or 50 Gm softened butter
- 2-3 drops almond extract (optional)
- 12 almonds
- 5-6 cashews
- Water to make dough
- 1 Cup or 120 Gm~ all purpose flour/maida
- 1 Tsp baking powder
- ¼ Tsp baking soda
- ⅓ Cup or 40 Gm powdered/icing sugar
- 1 Big Pinch salt
- ¼ Cup or 50 Gm softened butter
- ½ Tsp jeera
- ¼ Tsp ajwain/om/carom seeds
- Water to make dough
- Powder almonds and cashews into a coarse mixture. Keep aside
- Powder jeera and ajwain together and keep aside
- To make the base of the biscuits, take 2 separate bowls. Put ¼ Cup softened butter in both bowls
- For sweet version add ⅔ Cup powdered sugar to one bowl and ⅓ Cup sugar to ajwain-jeera version
- Cream butter and powdered sugar together lightly till they combine together and a light mixture is formed
- Combine all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda for sweet version in a plate. Repeat the same for ajwain-jeera version with a big pinch of salt
- Tip in dry ingredients into their respective bowls with creamed butter-sugar mixture
- To sweet version, add badam-kaju powder and ajwain-jeera powder to the other bowl
- Combine all together lightly till wet ingredients gets mixed with the dry. For sweet version add almond extract
- Add very little water. Start with ½ Tbsp water. Add little more as required and make a soft dough. Do NOT overwork the dough
- Cover both doughs and refrigerate for sometime. Pre-heat oven to 180 Deg C. To make biscuits, roll out into discs, cut into desired shape. Prick with fork lightly on the biscuits to prevent puffing
- Bake in 180 Deg C oven for 10-12 minutes till golden on the edges. They will turn crisp as they cool
- Serve as a snack with tea/coffee
Use water sparingly when making the dough. It comes together quite quickly
Prick biscuits lightly with a fork to prevent puffing up
Refrigerating dough allows it rest for a while and the dough turns softer
Stepwise:
Powder almonds and cashews into a coarse mixture. Keep aside
Powder jeera and ajwain together and keep aside
To make the base of the biscuits, take 2 separate bowls. Put 1/4 Cup softened butter in both bowls
For sweet version add 2/3 Cup powdered sugar to one bowl and 1/3 Cup sugar to ajwain-jeera version
Cream butter and powdered sugar together lightly till they combine together and a light mixture is formed
Combine all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda for sweet version in a plate. Repeat the same for ajwain-jeera version with a big pinch of salt
Tip in dry ingredients into their respective bowls with creamed butter-sugar mixture
To sweet version, add badam-kaju powder and ajwain-jeera powder to the other bowl
Combine all together lightly till wet ingredients gets mixed with the dry. For sweet version add almond extract
Add very little water. Start with 1/2 Tbsp water. Add little more as required and make a soft dough. Do NOT overwork the dough
Cover both doughs and refrigerate for sometime. Pre-heat oven to 180 Deg C. To make biscuits, roll out into discs, cut into desired shape. Prick with fork lightly on the biscuits to prevent puffing
Bake in 180 Deg C oven for 10-12 minutes till golden on the edges. They will turn crisp as they cool
Serve as a snack with tea/coffee
