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    Home » Recipes » Cookies & Bars

    Shira's Gramma's Raspberry Birds Nest Cookies

    December 6, 2012 by keepinitkind 32 Comments

    Back in the day, my friend used to host a cookie exchange party every year.  Everyone would bring about 40-50 cookies and the recipe printed out on an index card.  Each person would get to take 2 of each type of cookie as well as the recipe for each cookie.  It was an awesome party and it's something I miss doing each year.  I am ecstatic to tell you all, however, that through December 24th, I will be hosting a virtual, vegan version of this cookie swap party, with tons of guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers.  Keep checking back to see who brings what type of cookie!  

    In our daily lives, it is so easy to caught up in things on our to-do lists or something that happened last week (or last month or last year), that we forget about right now.  We forget that at this very moment, none of that matters.  We have all that we need at this very moment to live and breathe and be happy.  We don't need to make things so complicated, we don't need all that extra "stuff."  Shira, from In Pursuit of More, constantly reminds me that it's so much easier to live simply, and not only is it better for us, but when living with less, you actually gain more.  Shira has even started her own non-profit organization, Not So Fast, which helps raise money to provide locally-grown food for less-privileged families, while also teaching the youth in these communities how to cook simple meals with this food.  In other words, Shira is a beautifully inspirational woman.  I am absolutely beside myself to have her here today, sharing one of her simple, yet mouth-watering recipes.

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    Aren't the holidays a wonderful time of year? I've got to say I was pretty psyched when Kristy invited me to join this cookie exchange - what a fabulous reason to head into the kitchen to veganize an all time family favorite of mine!

    I should start this post with an admission though, and that is that I am guilty of forgetting how wonderful a fresh batch of home-baked cookies can turn a good day into a great one, or how the simple act of baking can relax us and bring so much joy to those who get to enjoy the results.

    This recipe is a perfect example, as I have not eaten one of these little darlings in years. That was a serious shame.

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    Just the thought of making this recipe brought me right back to Christmas time in the family home. Memories of the scratched cookie tins that held these little bundles of love each year, and my mom's loving and generous energy every time she pulled another batch from the oven.

    Love. That is what is in these.

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    I always thought they were complicated. But the truth is, they are dead simple to make and are incredibly forgiving.

    This newly veganized version proved that old favorites can be re-made to fit our needs and desires of today, without sacrificing or losing anything. I simply replaced the butter & egg in the recipe with coconut butter & flax eggs and voila! Easy, cheap, and delicious. I am not letting this one get away again, not ever, and neither should you! They are just too special not to.

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    Print
    Shira’s Gramma’s Raspberry Birds Nest Cookies

    Ingredients

    • (2) tbsp flax seeds
    • (6) tbsp warm water
    • (1/2) cup coconut butter, at room temperature
    • (1/3) cup sugar
    • (1/2) tsp vanilla extract
    • (1/4) tsp salt
    • (1) cup flour
    • (1-1.5) cups walnuts, ground (or very finely chopped by hand)
    • your favorite raspberry jam for filling the cookies, (about 1/3 cup)

    Instructions

    1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Start by mixing the flax seeds and warm water in a blender and let sit for a few minutes while you tend to gathering the rest. Grind the walnuts to a medium grind (not too fine but not too coarse either) and set aside in a flat baking tray or rimmed serving plate.
    2. To mix the butter & sugar, simple cream the two together in a medium bowl and cut with a fork, working to get any lumps from the coconut butter out (obviously if you have an electric mixer this is easy work). If you are really adventurous, you can squish the lumps with your hands and cream the sugar & butter that way too. Mix the two until uniform and soft.
    3. After about 5 minutes of soaking together, blend the flax & water mixture until the seeds are well broken down and the mixture has formed a gooey, gelatinous texture. Scrape the mixture out (use a spatula to get it all out!) directly into the butter & sugar bowl and set the blender aside.
    4. *Alternatively if you are using ground flax seeds you can skip the blender step entirely and just stir the mixture after it sits for a few minutes.
    5. Add the vanilla and stir to combine. Add the flour and salt next and mix the dough together until uniform (your hands are the best tool for this).
    6. Next, roll the dough mixture into roughly 2 inch balls and then flatten gently. Push the cookies into the ground walnuts and allow both sides of the entire surface of the cookies to be enveloped in the crushed nuts. Feel free to gently push the nuts into the dough to get more in there.
    7. Place the cookies on a cookie sheet (no need to oil it beforehand) and with your hands, gently form the rim around the 'nest'. Once all the cookies are formed and ready, spoon (just a little) of the raspberry jam into each nest. Each cookie will hold about a scant tablespoon or so of jam.
    8. When all of the nests are lovingly filled, put the cookies in the pre-heated oven and bake for 12 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and allow to rest on the pan for 3-5 minutes before gently moving to a cooling rack with a flipper.
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    Enjoy these beauties with a cold glass of your favorite milk or a hot cup of Rooibos tea.

    I am so happy & grateful to have had this reason to bring them back, and again I must extend a huge thanks to Kristy for the gracious hosting of this cookie exchange, a fabulous idea! I am so looking forward to trying some of your favorites too 🙂

    All this sharing reminds me of just why I love this time of year - thank you so very much for joining us and I can't wait to see what's next!

    Yours in Less,

    Email Handwritten Signature

    Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back on Saturday to see who our next special guest is and what they bring to the party!  Thank you so much, Shira,  for sharing your mom's stunning treats!   

    Be sure to check out the rest of the cookies at the party:

                  Ashlae's Mini Gingerbread Folk    Jackie's Persimmon Oatmeal Cookies  Richa's Macaroons  Caitlin's Applesauce Raisin Oatmeal Cookies  Gabby's Nutmeg Logs  Melissa's Cream Cheese Sprinkle Sugar Cookies  brownies-1024x530  Ultimate Quadruple Chocolate Chip Cookies

    More

    • Courtney's Chocolate Chai Shortbread Cookies
    • Heather's Noel Nut Rounds
    • Cadry's Banana Bread Chocolate Chunk Cookies
    • Somer's Brookie Grasshopper Squares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Annie

      December 06, 2012 at 7:29 am

      A classic! Lovely photos, Shira.

      Reply
      • Shira

        December 06, 2012 at 1:03 pm

        Thanks Annie! xx

        Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:24 pm

        I know- these photos totally blew me away. I love the colors!

        Reply
    2. Richgail @AstigVegan

      December 06, 2012 at 11:27 am

      Please keep up the good work Shira & Kristy! I'm a big fan of simple meals especially when my schedule gets busy, so I'm looking forward to make this recipe. Thanks for this recipe and more power to "Not So Fast!"!

      Reply
      • Shira

        December 06, 2012 at 1:03 pm

        Thanks Richgail! So happy to have Kristy introduce you to NSF! Enjoy the cookies 🙂 !!

        Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:27 pm

        Thank you, Richgail! Shira is the best for simple recipes. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Somer

      December 06, 2012 at 12:24 pm

      Awesome! I was totally going to do jam thumbprints but a little bird told me to do the brookies instead! Now I know why! These are so much more beautiful and original! Love this Shira and Kristy! xx

      Reply
      • Shira

        December 06, 2012 at 1:02 pm

        Isn't it great we didn't overlap? That would have been a HUGE shame anyway - we needed your brookies instead! xx

        Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:29 pm

        xoxo right back at you Somer! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Michelle

      December 06, 2012 at 1:52 pm

      Kristi you know what I love about your cookie swap, not only awesome cookies, but I am introduced to bloggers I haven't noticed before =)
      THANKS

      Reply
      • Shira

        December 09, 2012 at 10:56 am

        Happy to have you find me Michelle! 🙂

        Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:33 pm

        Thank YOU, Michelle! That's one of my favorite parts too- sharing some of my favorites with my readers. 🙂

        Reply
    5. ChgoJohn

      December 06, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      Yep! This recipe sounds perfect! Thanks, Shira, for sharing a little bit of your Grandma's recipe book with us. And thanks for introducing me to a great blog.

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:33 pm

        Awww, thank you John! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Cadry

      December 06, 2012 at 7:09 pm

      Oh, these sound so inviting and the raspberry jam adds such a bright splash of color!

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:34 pm

        I can totally see why these are mandatory for holiday celebrations. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Richa`

      December 06, 2012 at 9:42 pm

      these cookies are so beautiful and i bet they melt in the mouth. we dint have many sweet cookies growing up. There were a lot more savory options for snacking. But every few weeks mom would pick up some Jam cookies or fruit short breads and we would eat the whole batch within minutes:)

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:35 pm

        Ha! We never had these sorts of cookies in our house, but I had a friend whose mom always made them. They were so good!

        Reply
    8. jodye @ chocolate and chou fleur

      December 06, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      I've always been a fan of this type of jam-filled cookie. They're just so satisfying, and always remind me of when I was younger. I'd always have to separate the jam from the cookie part before I ate it! I love your use of coconut butter here, I'll have to give it a try!

      Reply
      • Shira

        December 09, 2012 at 10:56 am

        Thanks Jodye - the coconut butter was a natural substitute - it worked perfectly!

        Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:36 pm

        Haha! I love that- I used to eat candy bars or peanut butter cups like that, trying to separate the chocolate from the rest of the candy before eating it. I was such a weirdo!

        Reply
    9. Courtney Jones

      December 07, 2012 at 9:45 am

      Yummy! These are my favourite holiday cookies too. My mom and I will be making a huge batch on Sunday. I love this vegan version!

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:40 pm

        I love that you and your mom bake cookies together! That just totally warms my heart! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Gabby @ the veggie nook

      December 08, 2012 at 8:39 am

      I looove revamping old family favourites! I'll be doing the same thing for this cookie exchange in fact 🙂

      I love cookies filled with jam and I love how healthy these are. just awesome shira!

      Reply
      • Shira

        December 09, 2012 at 10:57 am

        Thanks Gabby! XO Looking forward to yours!

        Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 09, 2012 at 5:42 pm

        I can't wait to see your cookies, Gabby! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Melissa

      December 12, 2012 at 3:44 pm

      These both look AND sound amazing!

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 13, 2012 at 1:36 pm

        I totally agree. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Heather

      December 14, 2012 at 5:58 am

      Two of my favorite bloggers! Love these cookies - this type of cookie reminds me of the Holidays, I have never heard them referred to as Birds Nest Cookies - such an adorable name!

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        December 16, 2012 at 11:07 pm

        Awwww, Heather. You just gave me the warm fuzzies. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Bigg Sis

      December 29, 2012 at 9:41 am

      These look fabulous and your pictures truly are beautiful. Makes me want to make these as a January celebration!

      Reply
      • keepinitkind

        January 02, 2013 at 8:30 pm

        I think you should! 🙂

        Reply

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