This year Chinese New Year falls on February 14th when we will be saying goodbye to the Year of the Ox and welcoming in the Year of the Tiger. More next week about what the Year of the Tiger has in store for us, but today I thought I’d celebrate by baking Chinese Almond Cookies. These are said to look like coins and symbolize prosperity and so we bake them at this time to wish our loved ones a prosperous new year.

For my version I swapped butter for almond butter and olive oil and replaced the sugar with maple syrup. So here is my recipe for whole grain, dairy free new year cookies to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year.

Happy New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Vegan Almond Cookies

I cup whole wheat pastry flour

½ cup spelt flour

½ cup almond flour

1 tsp baking soda

¾ tsp sea salt

¼ tsp ground cardamom

1 cup almond butter

1 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp almond extract

½ cup slivered almonds

Preheat the 350 degrees

Method: -

Mix the dry ingredients together. This includes the whole wheat flour, spelt flour, almond flour, baking soda, cardamom and salt.

In a separate bowl mix together the wet ingredients. This includes the almond butter, maple syrup, olive oil and almond extract.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix lightly until just combined.

Put into the refrigerator for half an hour to firm up.

Drop heaping tablespoons full of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet

Press down with a fork to make little ridges

Press the slivered almonds into the cookies to decorate

Bake for 10 minutes being careful not to overcook because without the usual butter and eggs these cookies are much healthier but can get dry.