(枸杞) goji berry-orange cookies

while surfing food blogs this evening, i came across an interesting vegan adaptation of this fluffy cranberry-orange cookie recipe. i knew i had goji berries (枸杞) in my fridge and had just bought a sack of whole wheat flour. so i went about mixing my own adaptation of this recipe with what ingredients i had available.



these cookies are not very sweet since the only sweetening in the cookie dough is maple syrup. so if you like a sweeter cookie, dipping them in a little sugar before baking adds a little sweetness to them. the cookies turned out light and fluffy, almost like a very light mini scone. they make a healthy snack.



Goji Berry-Orange Cookies

1 cup dried goji berries

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup unbleached white flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 tablespoons orange juice
zest of 1 orange

1/4 cup sugar

1 Soak goji berries in hot water for 5 minutes.

2 While berries are soaking, mix flours, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.

3 In a large bowl, mix maple syrup, butter, egg, orange juice and orange zest thoroughly.

4 Drain goji berries well.

5 Mix flour mixture gradually into maple syrup mixture, adding goji berries before the last batch of flour is mixed in.

6 Shape dough into small balls and flatten in your palm. Dip flattened cookie in sugar and place on ungreased non-stick cookie sheet. Cookies will puff up but not expand very much.

7 Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Cool on cookie rack and enjoy!