Amaranth Gingerbread Cookies Food

DARK CHOCOLATE AMARANTH BARS (6 INGREDIENTS!)

Steps:

• Line a standard-size loaf pan or similar-sized dish (~8 ½ x 4 ½ inches) with parchment paper and set aside.
• To pop the amaranth, heat a large rimmed skillet (or large saucepan) over medium-high heat. Set a medium mixing bowl to the side for the popped amaranth. Once the pan is hot (give it at least 3-5 minutes to heat up), add 1 Tbsp (10 g) unpopped amaranth and immediately cover with a lid. Shake/slide the pot back and forth over the heat (wearing oven mitts can be helpful) to move the grain around. It should start popping within 1-3 seconds and be done popping at the 10-second mark (if it's not, that means the pan isn't hot enough). Quickly empty into the mixing bowl.
• Be sure to pull the amaranth off the heat at around 10 seconds (or when the unpopped grains are turning from golden to dark brown) or the amaranth will burn. It's okay if not every single grain has popped. It may take a couple tries to dial in your heat and not burn the grains, but then you'll hit your stride!
• Continue until you have roughly 1 ¼ cup (65 g) popped grain (adjust amount if altering number of servings).
• Add 1 inch of water to a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Place a small glass or metal bowl over the saucepan and add the chocolate chips, almond butter, and coconut oil. Heat, stirring occasionally with a spatula or spoon, until melted and no lumps remain (~3-5 minutes). You can also melt them in a heat-proof glass bowl in the microwave in 20-second increments.
• Once melted, stir in the salt and vanilla and carefully remove from the heat. Pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of popped amaranth and stir until it is evenly coated in chocolate.
• Transfer to the parchment-lined pan and refrigerate until set - about 1 hour. Then slice into bars - we like slicing into ~12 bars as they are rich and satisfying even as a small bar.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 1 month.

AMARANTH GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Place all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl and give them a mix
• In a smaller bowl, mix together the wet ingredients: melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, molasses, and maple syrup
• Pour the liquid mixture into the flour bowl and mix to combine. Add a little more whole wheat flour if the dough is too wet
• Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for an hour
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Lightly flour the surfaced and roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out the gingerbread men cookies and repeat the process until all of the dough is used. Place them on the baking sheet
• Bake for 12 minutes. Take out from the oven and set aside to cool completely

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat together the butter, treacle, brown sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the egg, then beat through all of the remaining dry ingredients apart from the caster sugar. Chill the mixture in the fridge for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Roll the mixture into 20 even-sized balls (weighing for accuracy, if you like). Tip the caster sugar onto a small plate, then add each ball and roll around to coat. Space each ball out on the baking sheets. Bake for 9-10 mins until golden brown. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.