Eggless Checkboard Cookies is basically a vanilla and chocolate flavoured butter biscuit which are presented in a way to resemble a checker-board and hence the name.
Eggless Checkerboard Cookies is a crisp yet soft biscuits with soft crumbs with distinctive flavours coming from vanilla and chocolate. Make sure to use a good quality vanilla extract and cocoa powder.
Why an Eggless Checkerboard Cookies?
Well thats because when I had posted my Chocolate Muffins recipe I had a lot of request for eggless bakes. So I thought let me try making one.
So basically these Eggless Checkerboard Cookies uses curd as an substitute for eggs. However if you want you can just use eggs instead; its exactly the same quantity.
Before we start with anything else I would like to share few tips or notes with you all..
Now if you like baking and are serious about it then I would highly recommend you to invest in a scale. Because weighing in grams is the most accurate form of weighing.
Say for eg: If I mention 1 cup butter chopped then someone might chop it finely whereas someone would take big chunks so the measurement won't be accurate and you get a little bit different end product.
My other tips include..
Tip 1: Is to always use conditioned butter. Would you like to read more about it. Then I have talked about it in detail in my Chocolate Chip Cookies - Baking for Beginners Series. Do check it out.
Add your curd or eggs in stages to avoid curdling of the mixture or to say splitting of the butter.
3: Always sift your cocoa powder to eliminate lumps and to ensure even mixing.
4: Use serrated knife to get even slicing be it cookies or cakes.
5: Bake your biscuits using the Double pan method.
Wondering what is double pan method?
Well basically you place a pan underneath your baking tray and then bake it. This is done to avoid the biscuits getting direct heat from the bottom which results in uneven heating and tends to over-bake the cookies from the bottom.
When I had shared my Rave Cake in Pressure Cooker. I had lots of questions from you guys on my social media sites asking about why have I not use salt? Or are we supposed to add water underneath? Or are we supposed to keep the gasket or whistle on?
So I thought in this post I will clear all those.
I had not used salt in my Rava Cake method. So I thought I will use salt this time to see if that makes any difference.
So I used some Rock Salt at the base.
A. It caused the sides of the cooker to blacken.
B. By the time the cookies were baked some of the salt almost burnt or turn black in colour; which would mean had I left the cookies for some more time it would have got some burnt smell.
Did it retain the heat?
Oh yes it did. I found that the cooker had lots of heat within as compared to the one that didn't had salt underneath.
Will I use it again?
Well I did not see any much of the difference in baking time. I would definitely not use Rock Salt again but will use regular salt in my next baking and will let you know then.
Are we supposed to use Water?
No we are not looking to generate steam inside the cooker. But I will try that method too once and see what difference does that make.
So what did these Eggless Cookies taste like?
Basically these are butter biscuits so had lots of buttery flavour.
The slight bitterness from the cocoa powder and sweetness from vanilla complimented well.
These were crisp yet had soft crumbs.
It was fun and technical to layer the cookie strips.
If you are enjoying my pressure cooker baking series then do let me know by tagging me, tweeting me or instagram me. I would love to follow your posts.
Here is the video recipe..
And the detailed recipe:
Eggless Checkerboard Cookies in Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
For the Vanilla Cookie Dough
- 200 gms Plain flour
- 120 gms Butter Conditioned
- 80 gms Icing Sugar
- 40 gms Curd
- 5 ml Vanilla Essence
For the Chocolate Cookie Dough
- 180 gms Plain Flour
- 120 gms Butter Conditioned
- 80 gms Icing Sugar
- 40 gms Curd
- 20 gms Cocoa powder
Instructions
- Using paddle attachment in a stand mixer combine conditioned butter and sugar in machine until blended. If using hand blender use the stir or fold setting. Or you can even mix using a normal spatula.
- Add curd in stages and combine everything well.
- Add the flour. Combine everything well.
- Make a dough and give it a rectangular shape and freeze for 15-20 mins until hard enough to handle.
- Roll it into 20x16 cms. And then divide it into 8 strips of 2cms each.
- Follow the same procedure for chocolate cookie dough except sift the flour and cocoa powder before adding.
- Refer the video for layering technique
- Bake in a preheated pressure cooker for 18-22 mins and if in oven then bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 12-15 mins.
Notes:
1. Do not cream the butter and sugar, we just need to blend it.
2. Press the layers really well with each other. IF not then you will be left with some gaps in between the cookies.
3. Use double pan method to bake cookies and biscuits.
4. If you have a flame based gas, then you might take around 16-18 mins to bake these cookies. I have an induction based gas and it took me exactly 20 mins to bake them.
Pin it for later..
See you soon with another recipe
Hugs
Sushma
Elza says
Mam can u pls tell me whats a double pan method in microvave I have tried butter cookies earlier in microvave but they melted and lost the shape pls reply
sushma iyer says
Hi Elza.. double pan is basically a method where we keep a pan beneath our cookies tray so that the cookies do not burn from the bottom.. 🙂
Geeta says
Hi
What is conditioned butter?
sushma iyer says
Hi Geeta...
Conditioned butter is basically softened butter. That is a butter that can be sliced through your fingers. Check my video recipe here for details : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj2-pkQjWSU
So basically all you have to do is keep the butter in room temperature for atleast an hour before you start with the recipe.
Prachi says
Wowww.. I dont hv oven will tey this method.. Thank u
sushma iyer says
Hey Prachi..
So good to hear that.. But please go through all the notes before you start with.. Best wishes.. And please share your feedback with us.. Can't wait to hear how it turns out to you.. 😀
Freda Dias says
They look perfect! Great work, Sushma 🙂
sushma iyer says
Hi Freda..
Thank you so much dear.. <3
Vijatha says
Wow thts amazing... will definitely try.. I wanna know can I use my idy cooker for baking instead of cooker..
sushma iyer says
Hi Vijatha..
So good to know that you liked this recipe.
I do not own a idli cooker so I have no idea whether it will retain the heat or not. Can you please send a photo of it on any of my social media page so that I can have a look.
Thank you dear