Cardamom Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does cardamom do in baking? ›

Many Indian and Indian-inspired dishes call for cardamom, including curry dishes, Kheer (Indian rice pudding), and chai. Indian spice blends such as garam masala also feature cardamom. You'll also find cardamom adds warmth and depth to baked goods such as cookies, bread pudding, and even cheesecake.

Ground cardamom: One of the more pungent spices in Mediterranean cooking, cardamom is a fairly warm spice with subtle lemony undertones that pair beautifully with orange.

Cardamom tastes of warmth while slightly peppery and with hints of fruit, pine, and citrus. It pairs well with light and fruity recipes as well as chocolate and coffee. What is this? Ground cardamom is easy to source and add to baking recipes that call for ground cinnamon, ginger, or pumpkin pie spice.

Beat granulated sugar, butter and molasses in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well mixed. Beat in egg and water until blended. Stir in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, cardamom and cloves. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.

Cardamom harmonizes beautifully with warming spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, to infuse dishes with captivating essence. Bringing forth a medley of flavor, this remarkable spice can elevate a variety of dishes, like stews, soups and curries, baked goods, desserts, and beverages such as coffee or tea.

It can also cause gastrointestinal upset, such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Large doses can also cause hypertension and rapid heartbeat. Cardamom may interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners and drugs that affect the liver. So it's important to consult a doctor before consuming it.

Potential Risks of Cardamom

People with gallstones should not take cardamom except to flavor food. We also need more research to determine the effects of large amounts of cardamom on women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor if you're considering taking cardamom as a supplement.

Culinary archaeologist Daniel Serra, who co-wrote the book An Early Meal – a Viking Age Cookbook and Culinary Odyssey, believes that cardamom first became of interest in Scandinavia in the 13th Century for both its medicinal and culinary use, as documented in the old cookbook Libellus de Arte Coquinaria.

Cardamom has a unique and distinctive flavor. It's challenging to describe but has peppery, piney, eucalyptus, and menthol-like notes, but the taste of cardamom is also floral with hints of citrus. This blend of sweet, peppery, pungent, and aromatic flavors actually makes it an incredibly versatile spice.

What you're trying to replicate when using a cardamom substitute is that cozy, earthy flavor that smells the way a warm, tight hug feels. The best replacements for ground cardamom are spices that have that same aroma and flavor, such as allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Which cardamom is best for baking? ›

Green cardamom ground from the pod was the “most vibrant and balanced” whereas the white cardamom was a significant disappointment. The black cardamom tasted more smoky, so it'd be nice in more savory dishes but in the cookies it came across as a bit schizophrenic. The verdict from Cook's Illustrated? Go green.

Buy cardamom pods whole and grind your own seeds for maximum flavor. Although it can be tempting to pick up cardamom seeds or even ground cardamom for ease, you can never beat the flavor extracted from freshly ground whole cardamom.

Best Cardamom Substitute for Baking

Because of their similar flavor and aroma profiles, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice are the best substitutes for baking. To best recreate one teaspoon of cardamom for your baked goods, you will want to mix a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and a ½ teaspoon of nutmeg or allspice.

The fragrance of cardamom blends well with bergamot, rose, cedar, cinnamon, clove, orange and ylang ylang.

Oils that blend well with Cardamom oil

Whether you are creating your own essential oil diffuser blend, or looking for the best companion for Cardamom, consider using Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Fennel, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, or citrus essential oils.

Ginger is a close substitute for cardamom so it shares many of the same qualities that you'll find in cardamom. Use a 1-1 ratio of cardamom substitute for cardamom called for in a recipe. For example, if your recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of cardamom, use 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of ginger.

Overview. Cardamom is an herb that is often used as a spice in foods. The seeds and the oil from the seeds are sometimes used to make medicine. Cardamom contains chemicals that might kill some bacteria, reduce swelling, and help the immune system.

Best Cardamom Substitute for Baking

Because of their similar flavor and aroma profiles, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice are the best substitutes for baking. To best recreate one teaspoon of cardamom for your baked goods, you will want to mix a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and a ½ teaspoon of nutmeg or allspice.