Holiday Shortbread, Reimagined with Cardamom

Are you someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday but still gets excited about the festive season? Growing up in Canada’s diverse and multicultural society, you can always find opportunities to blend traditions from your cultural roots with those of the West.

From setting up a Christmas tree and hanging lights to baking cookies and exchanging gifts with friends and family, these familiar holiday activities are often embraced, even in ethnic households that don’t celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense.

But how do you stay connected to your own culture while participating in the festivities around you? The answer might be simpler than you think—through food!

Take nankhatai, for example—a cultural spin on the beloved holiday shortbread cookie. While classic shortbread is typically plain or lightly flavored with vanilla, nankhatai is elevated by the fragrant addition of cardamom, a spice cherished in many cultures.

Cardamom, often called the “Queen of Spices,” is a versatile ingredient used in many cuisines. Known as elaichi in Hindi/Urdu, hab el-hal in Arabic, and korarima in Amharic, this aromatic spice is widely used across South Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. It’s a key ingredient in chai, adds depth to rice dishes, and enhances the flavor of curries and gravies. This holiday season, why not try something new and bring its aromatic charm to your baking?

Here’s a recipe for nankhatai! Let this be your gateway to merging holiday traditions with a touch of cultural heritage. It’s the perfect way to add something uniquely yours to the season while sharing flavors and stories that connect people across cultures.

Happy baking!

Recipe

Ingredients

• ¾ cup ghee (normally butter in traditional holiday cookies)

• 1 cup icing sugar 

• 8 pods of cardamom or 1tsp ground cardamom

• 1/4 tsp saffron (optional)

• 1 cup flour

• 1/2 cup chickpea flour

• 2 tbsp semolina flour (sooji) 

• ½ tsp baking powder 

Instructions

1. Crush the cardamom pods and grind the seeds into a fine powder.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the melted ghee, icing sugar, and ground cardamom until

smooth.

3. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients (flours) to form a soft dough.

4. Roll the dough into small round balls, then gently flatten them. Use a knife or fork to

make an "X" pattern on the top for a decorative shape as they bake.

5. Garnish each cookie with an almond or cashew pressed lightly into the center.

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until the edges turn golden.

7. Let the cookies cool before serving. Enjoy your aromatic, cardamom-infused treats!