Guest Recipe: Pinar's Almond & Coconut Biscuits

Beat the Bake Off with this scrummy biscuit recipe from guest blogger Pinar Rawlins...

"My Almond & Coconut Biscuits are so easy to make and being gluten and dairy free, they're a healthy alternative to traditional flour and butter biscuits (ideal if you're health conscious or have an intolerance). So what are you waiting for? Get your ‘Bake Off’ on with this versatile, simple and irresistible biscuit recipe!"

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 8-10 mins (allow 10-15 mins to cool and 10 mins to decorate)
• Total Time: 45 mins

Category: Biscuits & Cookies

Ingredients

For the biscuit
• 200 grams desiccated coconut
• 160 grams ground almonds
• 2 small free range eggs, whisked
• 6 tbsp runny honey
• 4 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 level tsp ground cinnamon
• A few pinches of ground ginger

For the topping

• 100 grams 70% dark chocolate
• 50g almond flakes
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method

For the biscuits

1. Preheat fan oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4
2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper (a couple if you have them; if not bake in batches)
3. In a large mixing bowl, add the desiccated coconut, ground almonds, cinnamon, ginger and eggs
4. In a jug/microwavable cup, melt the coconut oil for 30 seconds in the microwave and add to the mixing bowl with the honey
5. Using a wooden spoon, mix together all the ingredients until combined
6. With your hands, start making small balls on to the lined baking tray, leaving enough room for the ball to be formed into a round biscuit shape
7. Using your palms or fingers, flatten the balls to create a round biscuit shape of about 1cm thickness
8. Bake in the oven for around 10 minutes until a light golden brown
9. Leave the biscuits to cool on the parchment paper on a cooling rack for 15 minutes, or until completely cooled

For the decoration

1. In a small bowl, melt the dark chocolate and the coconut oil in the microwave - do this 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate has fully melted
2. Mix in the half a teaspoon of vanilla extract
3. To decorate the biscuit with the melted dark chocolate, you can either dip the top of the biscuit in or using a teaspoon, spoon the chocolate over half the biscuit and sprinkle on the almond flakes. If you don't have almond flakes use some desiccated coconut or just leave plain with the dark chocolate.
4. Leave to set on the cooling rack and enjoy as a healthy treat!

Food & Lifestyle blogger Pinar Rawlins grew up in a Turkish Cypriot household, always cooking and baking with her Mum in the kitchen. Her love affair with all things food, both healthy and sweet, can be found on her blog Beauty Baking Bella.

As you can see from her blog name, Pinar loves to bake! From her kid’s birthday cakes to cheesecakes, nothing brings her more joy than adding something sweet to her friend’s and family’s life.