Sweet Mango Lassi Cookies

I never tried mango lassi until my friend brought me to an Indian restaurant in college. The sweet, creamy yogurt drink was so different from anything I’d had before. My kids love it too, which got me thinking about turning those flavors into something we could enjoy as a snack.

That’s when I started playing around with these mango lassi cookies. They’re basically sugar cookies with a twist – adding the tang of yogurt and the sweetness of mango. If you’ve never had mango lassi before, think of these as a fun introduction to those classic Indian flavors in a familiar cookie form.

What Kind of Flour Should I Use?

While this recipe suggests tiger nut flour, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to choosing your flour for these cookies. All-purpose flour is the most common choice and will give you reliable, consistent results every time. If you want to experiment, pastry flour can make your cookies a bit more tender, while bread flour will give them a slightly chewier texture. For those avoiding gluten, you can substitute with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend – just make sure it contains xanthan gum to help hold your cookies together. Whatever flour you choose, remember to measure it correctly by spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it off, rather than scooping directly from the flour bag.

Options for Substitutions

This creative cookie recipe has several ingredients that can be swapped based on what you have in your pantry:

• Tiger nut flour: If you can’t find tiger nut flour, regular all-purpose flour works perfectly. You can also use whole wheat flour (though cookies will be denser) or a gluten-free flour blend (make sure it contains xanthan gum).
• Mango flavoring: No mango flavoring? Try using 4 tablespoons of mango puree instead – just reduce the milk in the recipe by 2 teaspoons. You could also use mango powder (amchur) but start with just 2 teaspoons as it’s more concentrated.
• Eggs: For each egg, you can use 1/4 cup of applesauce, 1/4 cup of mashed banana, or a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water).
• Honey in frosting: Feel free to swap honey with maple syrup, agave nectar, or even golden syrup. Each will add its own subtle flavor note.
• Cardamom: If you’re not a fan of cardamom or don’t have any, try using cinnamon or ginger instead. You could also mix both for a nice spice blend.
• Milk in frosting: Any plant-based milk works well here – try coconut milk for extra tropical flavor, or almond milk for a nutty touch. Just add it gradually to get the right consistency.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making mango lassi cookies is getting the right texture – tiger nut flour behaves differently from regular flour, so make sure to measure it precisely and avoid over-mixing the dough which can lead to tough, dense cookies.

Temperature control is crucial here: starting with room temperature butter and eggs ensures proper incorporation, while chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes helps prevent excessive spreading during baking (if your cookies are spreading too much, pop the remaining dough in the fridge between batches).

When it comes to the frosting, adding too much milk at once can make it too runny – start with less and gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency, and remember that the honey will also affect the texture.

For the best flavor, don’t skip the cardamom in the frosting, but be careful not to add too much as it can quickly overpower the delicate mango notes in the cookies.

What to Serve With Mango Lassi Cookies?

These Indian-inspired cookies are perfect alongside a cup of masala chai or a glass of cold milk for an afternoon treat. Since they’re already sweet and have complex flavors from the mango and cardamom, try serving them with something simple like plain vanilla ice cream or a scoop of mango sorbet to play up the tropical notes. If you’re putting together a dessert platter, these cookies work really well next to plain shortbread or simple butter cookies to give your guests different flavor options. A cup of unsweetened black tea would also help balance out the sweetness while complementing the cardamom in the frosting.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These mango lassi cookies stay nice and soft when kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you’ve added the frosting, place a piece of wax paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. The cardamom flavor actually gets better after a day or two!

Freeze: Want to save some for later? These cookies freeze really well without the frosting. Just pop them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. I like to make a double batch and freeze half for when those cookie cravings hit!

Make Ahead: You can prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. The frosting can also be made a day ahead – just keep it covered in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before spreading.

Preparation Time	20-30 minutes
Cooking Time	13-15 minutes
Total Time	40-50 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2200-2500
• Protein: 25-30 g
• Fat: 100-110 g
• Carbohydrates: 300-340 g

Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 4 tsp mango flavoring (gives better aroma)
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs (large)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

For the frosting:

• 1 cup powdered sugar (sifted for a smooth glaze)
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom (freshly ground preferred)
• 1 tsp honey
• 4 to 5 tsp milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla essence

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Begin by gathering all the ingredients you need for the cookie dough.

This includes butter, sugars, eggs or egg replacer, mango extract, vanilla extract, tiger nut all-purpose flour (or regular all-purpose flour), baking soda, and salt.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

Using a standing mixer with a paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl and hand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together on low speed until well combined and fluffy.

If you’re using an egg replacer, prepare it as per the package instructions and set aside.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Add the prepared eggs or egg replacer, along with mango extract and vanilla extract, to the creamed butter and sugar mixture in the standing mixer.

Mix on low speed until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the tiger nut AP flour (or all-purpose flour), baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in the mixer, using the paddle attachment on low speed.

Mix until a dough forms.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Once the dough comes together, scoop it onto a piece of cling wrap and form it into a large ball.

Cover the dough ball tightly with the cling wrap and freeze it for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, clean your mixer bowl to prepare for the cookie glaze.

Step 5: Shape and Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Scoop 1.5 tablespoons of the chilled dough, form it into a round ball, and slightly flatten it before placing it onto the baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes.

After baking, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes.

Step 6: Prepare and Apply the Glaze

While the cookies are baking or cooling, prepare the glaze.

Using a standing mixer with a whisk attachment or a large bowl and whisk, combine the glaze ingredients on the lowest speed until smooth and drizzlable.

Once cookies are completely cooled, transfer them onto a cooling rack placed over the parchment-lined baking sheet to catch any glaze drips.

You can either dunk the tops of the cookies in the glaze or use a spoon to drizzle it on.

Allow the glaze to set for five minutes, then enjoy your delightfully glazed cookies!