Date and Cashewnut Cookies

• 1/2 cup dates (khajur), deseeded and chopped
• 1/2 cup soya flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp chopped cashewnuts (kaju) , lightly toasted
• 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp butter for greasing

Directions

1. 1Combine the dates and 1 cup of water in a deep pan and bring to boil.
2. 2Lower the flame and cook for another 10 minutes or till the dates are fully mashed into a purée. Keep aside to cool.
3. 3Combine the soya flour, whole wheat flour, butter and sugar in a bowl using your fingertips till the mixture resembles bread crumbs.
4. 4Add the date purée, cashewnuts and cocoa powder, mix well and knead it into a semi-stiff dough.
5. 5Cover with a plastic film and refrigerate for 15 minutes
6. 6Roll out into a sheet of 6 mm. (¼") thickness and cut out cookies approx. 50 mm. (2") in diameter using a cookie cutter.
7. 7Re-roll the scraps of dough to make more cookies and place them on a greased baking tray.
8. 8Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180º c (360º f) for 25 minutes or till the cookies are crisp and golden brown in colour. Cool and store in an air-tight container.