Santa’s Mmmmm…Mango Christmas Cookies

He’s been around the globe dropping off gifts, he’s braved the cold northern hemisphere, and by the time Santa reaches South Africa, he will definitely need some mango sunshine to warm his spirits!

Get your kids to the top of Santa’s list by treating him to a plate of biscuits topped with mango mascarpone…Mmmmm. Good news is that South African mango farmers have made sure you can do just that because cheerful red, green, yellow and orange mangoes are in season right now.

The best thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t take too long to prepare, and you can store the biscuits for a few days to be ready and waiting for whenever you or the kids get the urge! Just make sure you leave a couple for Christmas Eve!

Bring the Mmmmm…Mango merriment to your Christmas and add loads of juicy sunshine to your summer holidays.

For more Mmmmm mangoes recipes visit www.mango.co.za,  like us on Facebook @SAMangoes and follow us on Instagram @MangoesSA

COOKIES TOPPED WITH MANGO-MASCARPONE

Makes approximately 18 biscuits

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 100 g jungle oats
• 125 g almond flour
• 50 g cake flour
• 150 g castor sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) canola oil
• 30 ml (2 tbsp.) runny honey
• 15 ml (1 tbsp.) vanilla extract
• 5 ml (1 tsp.) bicarbonate of soda
• 30 ml (2 tbsp.) boiling water

For the topping

• 80 g fresh mango, peeled, pitted, and puréed
• 125 g mascarpone cheese or cream cheese

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C and line 2 baking trays with baking paper and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix the oats, flours, 100 g of the sugar and salt.
3. Place the oil, honey and vanilla in a saucepan and gently heat through.
4. Place the bicarbonate of soda and boiling water in a small mixing bowl and stir until combined. Pour into the oil mixture, and gently stir, don’t be alarmed as it will froth up. Pour the mixture over the oat mixture and mix well to combine.
5. Roll small amounts of the dough into 30 g walnut-size balls and place spaced out on the prepared baking trays, use the palm of your hand to slightly flatten. Bake for about 8 – 10 minutes.
6. Carefully transfer the biscuits to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely, the biscuits might seem soft but as they cool down, they will harden. At this stage you can store the biscuits in an airtight container until you are ready to serve them. (May store for up to a week)
7. Once the biscuits are cooled and ready to serve, mix the mango purée, mascarpone, and remaining castor sugar well together and spread over the biscuits with a spoon. (May pre-prepare the mango mascarpone and store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week)