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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Air Fryer / Nankhatai | Indian Cookies

    Nankhatai | Indian Cookies

    Modified: Apr 19, 2023 · Published by Alpa Jain · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Nan khatai are popular Indian cookies served as a snack with tea. This is an easy recipe to make nan khatai at home in the oven or in the air fryer.
    Pinterest image for Indian nankhatai recipe in oven.
    nankhatai served in a tray topped with candied fruit pieces.

    Nankhatai is a popular Indian shortbread cookie. It is a perfect tea-time snack and is enjoyed by kids and adults alike. If you are looking for Indian cookies for Diwali or other occasions, these are truly the best and melt in your mouth.

    It is a no-egg cookie that is soft, light, crispy to bite and absolutely satisfying. It is easy to make at home in the oven for a large batch, or in the air fryer for a smaller batch.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storage
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    This is an eggless nankhatai recipe for made without baking soda or baking powder. The main ingredients of homemade nan khatai cookies are all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, ghee, chickpea flour (besan), semolina or sooji, and some cardamom powder for flavor.

    Nuts like pistachios and almonds are put on top of the cookies for garnishing but they are optional.

    Icing sugar or powdered sugar can be used. For consistent results, it is best to weigh all the ingredients using a digital food scale while making nan khatai cookies.

    Instructions

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    To make light and fluffy nankhatai that has a perfect crunch when you bite it, the first step is to whisk ghee and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. You can use a stand mixer, hand whisk, or a hand blender with a whisk attachment for blending.

    collage of making nankhatai dough.

    It is essential to blend ghee and sugar well, or else the nankhatai can end up being dense. After blending, add all the flour and cardamom powder and mix it to make a soft dough.

    Bind everything into a soft dough ball, there is no need to knead the dough but bind it well, ensuring it does not stick to the sides of the bowl. If it does stick, you can add a little all-purpose flour.

    Divide the dough into small pieces of about 20-25 grams each. Roll each piece into a ball by rolling it in between your palms and then press it to flatten it.

    Make a small indentation in the center of the dough ball with a fork or a butter knife. This ensures that nankhatai does not bulge out from the center but bakes well from all sides.

    nankhatai served in a tray topped with candied fruit pieces.

    Bake in oven

    Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Place all the nan khatai dough balls in the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Leave some space between the cookie dough balls as they will expand while baking.

    Bake the cookies for about 15-18 minutes until they start becoming golden brown on the edges. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool down completely before serving or storing them, or else they can break.

    baking nankhatai in air fryer and oven.

    Bake in an air fryer

    Nankhatai can be made in the air fryer equally easily. It takes much less time to make a batch of nan khatai in the air fryer compared to the oven and might be a good option when making a smaller batch.

    Preheat the air fryer to 330 °F and place the dough balls in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper. Air fry the nankhatai for 8 minutes until the sides start becoming golden brown in color.

    Remove the basket and allow the cookies to cool down before taking them out from the basket, or else they will break.

    nankhatai served in a tray topped with candied fruit pieces.

    Equipment

    These Indian cookies are easy to make at home. The first step of blending sugar and ghee can be done with a hand blender or a stand mixer using the wire attachment.

    They can be baked in a convection oven or in the air fryer, especially if you are making a small batch. I have made these nankhatai cookies in the Philips air fryer and Instant Vortex Plus air fryer but they can be made in any air fryer, tray style, or basket style.

    Serving suggestions

    You can enjoy nankhatai at any time of the day as a snack. It is popularly served with tea with other savory snacks. 1-2 pieces is a good serving size.

    Storage

    Nankhatai, just like most cookies, is stored at room temperature in an air-tight container. They stay good for up to a month.

    Pinterest image for Indian nankhatai recipe.

    If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also like

    • Almond flour cookies
    • No-egg cookies
    • Masala chai
    • Tutti frutti cake
    • Chocolate covered cookies
    • Pumpkin cookies

    Don't forget to rate the recipe by clicking the stars. Also, pin the recipe by clicking the "Pin" button, for your future reference.

    📖 Recipe

    nankhatai served in a tray topped with candied fruit pieces.

    Nan Khatai | Indian Cookies

    Nan khatai are popular Indian cookies served as a snack with tea. This is an easy recipe to make nan khatai at home in the oven or in the air fryer.
    4.72 from 14 votes
    Rate Recipe Print Pin Save Saved!
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    Servings: 36 pieces
    Calories: 97kcal
    Author: Alpa Jain
    Follow on Facebook@culinaryshades

    Equipment

    • Hand blender
    • Convection Oven
    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Ghee
    • 1 cup Organic cane sugar (powdered, or icing sugar)
    • 2 cup All-purpose flour
    • ½ cup Chickpea flour (besan)
    • ¼ cup Semolina
    • ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • In a mixing bowl add ghee and powdered sugar.
    • Blend sugar and ghee mixture using a hand blender whisk attachment on low speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients and mix them into a soft dough using a spatula.
    • Make small balls of about 20 grams each and flatten them between your palms.

    Bake nan khatai in the oven

    • Preheat the oven to 350 °F with the rack at mid-level.
    • Place the flattened dough balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
    • Bake the nan khatai cookies in the oven for 15-18 minutes until the edges start becoming slightly golden brown.
    • Allow the cookies to cool down completely before serving.

    Make nan khatai in an air fryer

    • Preheat the air fryer to 330 °F
    • Place the flattened dough balls in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper.
    • Air fry for 8 minutes on 330 °F.
    • Remove the basket and allow the cookies to cool down before taking them out of the air fryer basket. (else they can break)

    Watch Video

    Notes

    It is best to weigh the ingredients to get a consistent result every time. (Click on the metric link below the ingredients list)
    Nutrition Facts
    Nan Khatai | Indian Cookies
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    97
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    5
    g
    8
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    13
    mg
    4
    %
    Sodium
     
    1
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    22
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    12
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    6
    g
    7
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    2
    mg
    0
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @culinaryshades23 or tag #culinaryshades

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Rinku says

      June 03, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious Home made fresh Nankhatai.

      Reply
      • Alpa Jain says

        June 04, 2022 at 11:26 am

        Hi Rinku

        Thankyou for the feedback.

        Regards
        Alpa

        Reply
    2. Vi says

      April 09, 2022 at 10:29 am

      When do you add tge fruit/candy decoration?

      Reply
      • Alpa Jain says

        April 09, 2022 at 11:49 am

        Hi Vi,

        I have just added it on top after baking them and once they cooled. But you can add it on top and then bake them.

        Hope this helps.

        Regards
        Alpa

        Reply

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    Alpa Jain - Author of Culinaryshades

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