Galletas de Aceite

OLIVE OIL, RAISIN AND LEMON COOKIES

I created this recipe one day when I was searching for a good cookie that differed from traditional American flavours, which was healthier, and encapsulated the taste of Spain. If you travel around Spain, pretty much wherever you are, on either side of the road you will see vineyards, olive groves and citrus trees. It didn’t take me long to work out what my cookie had to taste like.

Serves 4  

Ingredients  

125g (2/3 cup) caster (superfine) sugar  

100g (1/2 cup) brown sugar  

150ml (2/3 cup) Extra virgin olive oil  

1 tsp vanilla extract  

1 egg  

100g (3/4 cup) raisins  

½ tsp salt  

Grated zest of 1 lemon  

250g (1-3/4 cups + 2 tbsp) self-raising flour  

Method  

In a big bowl, vigorously whisk both the sugars with the olive oil for 2 minutes. 

Add the vanilla extract and the egg and whisk for another 2 minutes. 

Add the raisins, salt and lemon zest. 

Sift over the flour and fold with a spatula for no longer than 2 minutes. 

The mixture will lose its fluffiness and get firmer the longer you fold it, so don’t overdo it. 

Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.   Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  

Roll the chilled dough into balls the size of ping pong and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 10 cm (4 in) between each one to allow for spreading. 

Bake for about 7 minutes if you like them soft and doughy, or 9 minutes if you prefer them crispier.

Delicious cookies with a true taste of Spain.