Fig + Spelt Cookies

So, it's safe to say I love cookies, and sweets, and baking in general. It's so fun experimenting with different grains and sweeteners in the kitchen to create something that's tasty but also healthy. This week, I ended up buying some spelt flour. I know I'm probably really behind on this bandwagon, but, I fell in love!

Spelt is so great. It's an easy grain and flour to work with as far as baking goes. I pretty much used it like I would any wheat flour. But the best part is, its chalk-full of nutrients. It's packed with B vitamins, manganese, iron, and fiber. The best part is, is that it is water-soluble. What does that mean? Well, it essentially makes the nutrients easier to absorb into our bodies. 

On top of all of these amazing things, spelt is pitta pacifying--meaning that it is super cooling and light. It's perfect for the summer time to use as your go-to grain. 

Without further ado, here's my recipe for spelt cookies. I decided to use fig, because one, I'm loving fig lately. And two, fig is also great for pitta, i.e. summer time. 

These cookies are super soft and airy--the perfect afternoon treat to calm and cool yourself down. Enjoy! 

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups spelt flour
• 1 cup sugar (try to use organic turbinado or evaporated cane juice)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp ground chia seed
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 10 Dried Calimyrna figs-chopped
• Coconut flakes: optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Cream together the butter and sugar
3. Slowly add in the vanilla and chia seeds
4. When the vanilla and chia seeds are fully incorporated, pour in the water and let it get fully mixed together
5. Add the cardamom, cinnamon, and baking powder
6. Begin to mix in the flour 1 cup at a time
7. Once the dough is mixed well, fold in the chopped figs
8. Prepare a cookie sheet--greased and floured--and drop the cookie dough into small chunks
9. Optional: you can top the cookies with a few coconut flakes for a subtle flavor
10. Bake for 10-13 minutes in the oven, or until the bottoms are golden brown

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Dried Calimyrna figs are my favorite

These are literally the softest cookies to come out of my kitchen

Close up to see the beautiful color of the fig popping out