Monday, December 23, 2013

Arrowroot (Uraro) Cookies

Uraro or arrowroot cookies are common giveaway treats in the Philippines.  As the name suggests, these cookies are made from arrowroot flour which gives them their distinct delicate and powdery texture.  This year, as part of my homemade presents, I baked a batch of these cookies and packaged them in pretty Christmas cookie tins I found at ALDI.


A cookie press is ideal to use for the arrowroot cookie dough.  I pressed mine into Christmas tree shapes!


While these cookies are simple and easy to make and are very inexpensive, I know that the labour that goes with baking from scratch and packaging them beautifully, with the recipient in mind, is incomparable to any store-bought present. Don't you think so?

Perhaps you still have time to make them for someone this Christmas or if you don't, anytime is perfect anyway!  Try it sometime.

ARROWROOT (Uraro) COOKIES (makes 100+ pieces)

Ingredients:

3 1/3 cups arrowroot flour**
1 cup plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon maple flavouring
2 large eggs, room temperature

**if you cannot find arrowroot flour, cornstarch is an excellent substitute.

Procedure:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F).

In a large bowl, whisk together the arrowroot flour, plain flour, and baking powder.

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add in the maple flavouring.

Beat in the eggs one at a time.

Gradually beat in the flour mixture.  Stop mixing as soon as everything has come together cohesively.

Press cookie dough onto ungreased baking sheets. (If you don't have a cookie press, just roll the dough into one inch balls then press with a fork.)


Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes.  Let them cool on the sheet for about  5 minutes, then carefully move them to a wire rack to cool completely.



Made without the use of a cookie press.

Keep in cookie tins or airtight containers. Yummy!

20 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Corinne and family!!! I've been waiting for you to post this recipe. I used to buy that kind of cookie in Lucena, Quezon province, Phil. Where did you get your arrowroot flour? Those look delicious! Homemade treats are the best. ~Mela~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found arrowroot flour in an Indian store here. If you use cornstarch instead, the results will be the same.

      Have a blessed Christmas Mela!

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    2. Hi Corinne! Which Indian store are you referring too and where in the Philippines? I badly need aerowroot flour. Hope you could help. Thanks!

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    3. I don't live in rhe Philippines so I don't really know where to get arrowroot flour there.

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  2. Hi Corine,

    Christmas is such a busy time...

    I made cookies almost like yours... but they were without eggs... taste like snowflakes, because they almost melt in the mouth... ;-)

    I wish you and your family a peaceful and happy christmas...

    Warmest regards from Germany

    Andrea

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  3. These biscuits are really good ! I'm making my 3rd batch right now and already had one with a nice cup of tea.
    Thank you for this great, simple and tasty recipe.

    Greetings from Adelaide !

    Camille

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  4. if i use cornstarch should i put 3 1/3 cups of it as well? and also, is it the same results with tapioca flour? just checking my options. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, same amount of cornstarch.

      Cannot recommend any other flour except the two mentioned.

      Delete
  5. i cant have gluten, can i do it in pure arrowroot floor, and without baking pwder?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry but this wasn't meant to be a gluten-free cookie. Changing and/or omitting certain ingredients will naturally give you a different result.

      Delete
  6. where did you buy the uraro powder? Cant find them in sm supermarkets

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am not located in the Philippines so I don't really know where to get them there. Here in Melbourne, I found arrowroot flour in an Indian flour supply store.

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  7. Everytime I go to the Philippines I make sure to go to Tagaytay for the best URARO, now I can make it in my own kitchen. You are such a blessing for sharing your recipe. I just made a batch and I love it, can't wait to share with my friends.

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  8. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Will try this at home after work. God bless!

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  9. Replies
    1. Arrowroot flour is also known as uraro flour and is available in most groceries in Metro Manila. This is frequently used as thickener in sauce which gives a velvety, smooth texture. Used in the peanut sauce of lumpiang sariwa that conveniently embraces the lumpia without soaking into the lumpia. I suspect McDonald's uses uraro flour on their Choco fudge. Uraro flour gives these cookies the signature light and airy, melts in your mouth cookie charm.

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  10. Arrowroot was used all the time last century for babies who were teething, and also there is scientific based evidence arrowroot lowers cholesterol. Florence Nightengale mentions it in her Nurse Note's book.

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  11. How big is the cup please? what ounces? Thanks

    ReplyDelete