I’m not a baker in general. MaryKate is a much better baker than I am and she’s more into it. I’m more of a “get an appetizer instead of dessert” kind of woman. But around the holidays I kind of want some sort of cookie. A couple of weeks ago when I was developing my Homemade Pasta, Gluten-Free, Vegan & Gum-Free recipe, I was going through my assortment of kitchen toys looking for the pasta attachments for the KitchenAid, and I came across my Pampered Chef Cookie Press that I bought years ago out of nostalgia. My mom had one (which she probably doesn’t even remember having) that I used to use when I was a kid. And after I found it, I kept thinking about it, so I developed this recipe. It’s probably the closest I will ever get to having a shortbread buttery kind of cookie again. If you don’t have a cookie press, Pampered Chef has one that is a twist style now, but I like the gun ones better. Here’s an example of the gun style (no affiliation with Amazon), which is very similar to the one I have.
Full disclosure: I’m using psyllium husk in this recipe instead of chia, because chia is currently on the suspect list as a potential new allergy. Sigh. If you can still use chia (or flax, I’m allergic to flax too), I’m pretty sure that would work too. Also, I’m using my Homemade Margarine, New and Improved in this recipe because it’s all I have (note: I use cashew milk in my margarine recipe, but you can use any non-dairy milk in it). If you don’t have a corn or coconut allergy or react to palm, and you can use either Earth Balance margarine or a vegetable shortening, give it a go. If you decide to use shortening, I’d add a tablespoon of water or non-dairy milk because shortening is dryer than margarine.
I modified my normal all purpose gluten-free flour blend because the millet gave the cookies more of a whole grain taste than I was going for. The mix below makes 4 1/2 cups, but you only need 3 1/2 cups for the cookies.
- 1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour
- 1 cup tapioca starch
- 1/2 cup arrowroot starch
- Measure all ingredients into a large bowl and whisk together. Store in a tightly sealed container.
- 3 tbsp aquafaba (see http://aquafaba.com/)
- 1 tsp psyllium husk (or ground chia seed or flax seed)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (I make my own with vanilla beans and vodka made from potatoes, as most commercial extract contains corn)
- 1 tsp water (if using shortening, add a tablespoon)
- 1 1/2 cups homemade margarine, Earth Balance margarine or vegetable shortening (Earth Balance margarine and vegetable shortening are generally not safe for corn, coconut, or palm allergies)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 3 1/2 cups Gluten-Free Flour Mix for Spritz or Cookie Press Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix aquafaba, psyllium, vanilla extract, and water in a small bowl and set aside to let it gel. Add salt to flour mixture in a large bowl and set aside.
- Using a stand mixer and the beater blade, cream margarine or shortening with brown sugar and white sugar until well combined. Scrape down sides and add aquafaba/psyllium/vanilla extract/water mixture to the bowl. Beat together until well combined, scraping down the sides as necessary.
- Add the flour mixture a cup or so at a time, beating it in as you go, scraping down the sides as necessary. Once all the flour is well incorporated, put the dough in your cookie press and spritz/press your cookies onto cookie sheets.
- If you are baking on metal cookie sheets, bake for 15-17 minutes depending on your oven. If you are using baking stones, bake for 19-21 minutes, depending on your oven.
- Let cool on cookie sheet or baking stone for two minutes before removing to cool on a rack.
Enjoy!