Spiced South African Crunchies with Walnut and Mixed Seeds
Crunchies are an iconic South African Oats and Coconut Cookie. The Spices, Nuts and Seeds, makes this crunchie version, oh so moreish.
Growing up in South Africa, many of my South African readers would agree, The Buttery, Nutty and Sweet Delicious aromas of a batch of Crunchies baking, is what Fond family food memories are made of. With it still being Heritage Month in South Africa, this was the perfect time to showcase these Crunchies.
I am always trying to add new stuff to further enhance the good old crunchie recipe from my Family Favourite archive, and the ones I add nuts and seeds to, are most loved by my family. When Snack ń Dash sent over some of their products for me to try out, I already knew that I was going to use some of those nuts and seeds, to whip up a batch of crunchies. These are not overly Sweet, and have a crunchy texture when you bite into it, followed by a delightfully spiced and nutty chewy cookie.
Traditionally, these Classic South African Crunchies are often baked pressed into an oven safe dish. However, I have made these as individual biscuits as well, and their crunch levels are a whole lot more enjoyable. Whichever way you decide to make them, These will be a firm favourite in your home too.
Snack ń Dash have a wide range of Nuts and Seeds that you can purchase, and try out with this recipe. Today I share a Spiced Crunchie, using Walnut and Mixed Seeds from Snack ń Dash Online store. DID YOU KNOW, Walnuts are among the Top 5 Nuts with the most health benefits. Walnuts have a wealth of Polyunsaturated fats, the good kind of fats, and help lower cholesterol and inflammation, to name a few. The mixed Seeds Range from Snack ń Dash, have a blend of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and chia seeds. Seeds are a great source of fibre and also contain healthy fats. Bursting with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, some of the benefits of seeds, is their ability to help reduce blood sugar and blood pressure.
So Apart from the Oats and Coconut in the recipe, adding in nuts and seeds, further increases the nutritional benefits derived from these treats. Switching up the regular all purpose/Cake flour with a gluten free flour, and opting to use a sugar replacement option, will be perfect if you on a specific diet.
South Africans enjoy a little spicing added to their food, and these Spiced Crunchies version, also boasts a rounded, subtle flavouring from spices commonly used in other South African sweet treats.
Some Exciting News… Until the end of September 2020, my South African readers can take advantage of an exclusive promotional discount code, and get 15% off your purchase, when you shop on the SNACK ń DASH ONLINE STORE . Use foodevamarsay2020 as the discount code at checkout.
Do also try this Easy Kashmiri Pulao , featuring more of Snack ń Dash Products used.
Now, grab those aprons and let’s get started, whipping up a batch of these easy to make, delicious South African classic Cookie.
Happy ‘Crunchies’ Baking lovelies
Love Marriam
Please do take a moment to rate this recipe and leave your comments and feedback.
Spiced South African Crunchies with Walnut and Mixed Seeds
AUTHOR: Foodeva Marsay (@foodeva_marsay)
INGREDIENTS
200 grams Butter (salted or unsalted)
3-4 Tablespoon Golden Syrup (Honey or Maple syrup is fine too)
1 and 1/2 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
2 Tablespoon Hot Water
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar (Light brown or golden Brown Sugar)
1/3 Cup Snack ń Dash Walnuts (chopped)
1/4 Cup Snack ń Dash Mixed Seed
1 Cup Desiccated Coconut
1 and 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1 and 1/4 Cup Flour (All purpose/Cake flour)
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Ginger Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Mixed Spice
1/4 Teaspoon Dried Orange/Naartjie Peel Powder (optional)
https://marriamsayed.com/2020/09/16/spiced-south-african-crunchies-with-walnut-and-mixed-seeds/
INSTRUCTIONS
~ Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius
~ Grease/Line with baking paper, a medium sized oven safe casserole/pan. (30cmx 20cm)
~ Add the Sugar, Flour, Coconut, Oats, Nuts, Seeds and Spices to a Bowl, and mix well to combine.
~ Melt the butter and Golden Syrup in a large enough saucepan/pot
~ When melted, remove from heat source, allow to cool slightly.
~ Mix the Bicarbonate of Soda with Water, and add this to the melted butter. This should froth up a little.
~ Now add in the dry mixed ingredients to the melted butter, and stir together well, until combined.
~ Add the Crunchies mixture to the prepare pan, and press down the crunchies mix tightly into pan. Ensure the level is consistent throughout, and the top is smooth.
~ Bake in pre-heated oven, for +/- 25 minutes, lower the oven temperate to 165 degrees celsius and turn the pan around halfway through baking.
~ The crunchies do brown very quickly, so adjust oven temperature accordingly.
~ When golden in colour, remove from oven and allow to cool well. Slice the crunchies into bars or squares whilst still warm, BUT allow to cool fully before attempting to remove from pan.
~ The Crunchie will be airy and soft when removed from oven, but firm up once cooled.
TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL CRUNCHIE COOKIES
~ Preheat Oven as mentioned above.
~ Line a Baking sheet with Baking Paper/ or grease with non stick spray
~ Take golf ball sized pieces of dough, roll up tightly, and place onto baking sheet.
~ Do Not flatten, and leave enough space between each as they spread.
~ Drop Oven temperature to 165 degress celsius, as crunchies brown very easily.
~ Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool fully before attempting to place crunchies on a cooling rack. (These will be too soft to handle immediately)
ENJOY as a snack or tea time treat
NOTES BY FOODEVA MARSAY
> These Crunchies brown very quick, so best to use the lower temperature mentioned. Also note, the crunchies need to be around 1.5 cm in thickness when pressed into pan. Too thick, and the crunchies may not be crispy, whilst too thin may burn or dry out crunchies.
> Crunchies are generally soft when out of the oven, but tend to firm up as they cool. For the pressed crunchies, once cooled and removed from pan, you can put them back into the oven at low temperature (not more than 100 degrees celsius), to further crisp up. Take care they may brown further and will still be soft again after removing from oven, before firming up again as they cool.
> White Sugar or Sugar Replacement may be used.
> Any other nut and seed variety may be used. Try these with pecans or almonds. IF you prefer, only one variety of seed can be used as well. Snack ń Dash also have seeds in their individual form.
> For a more traditional Crunchie, you can omit the spices, nuts and seeds. OR you could also drizzle on some melted chocolate.
DISCLAIMER:
This has been a sponsored post, but all information and recipe are solely my own.
*Kindly Share as posted, ©www.marriamsayed.com*
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