Advent Week 3: Mbatata Cookies

Last week I said Malawians don't have Christmas cookies.  Well, that's partially correct. There is a cookie that is commonly prepared using sweet potatoes, but it is made year round, or so my Malawian friend tells me.  We decided to make Mbatata (sweet potato) cookies as part of our Christmas cookie baking this year to see what they taste like!

Sweet potatoes are actually ranked as the most nutritious vegetables out there...way above broccoli or spinach!  (sweet potato nutrition and more interesting info).  I have heard of campaigns in Africa promoting the eating of one sweet potato a day to boost nutrition intake.  This is particularly important in a diet consisting mostly of maize (corn), vegetable relish using pumpkin leaves and tomatoes, rice and beans and hopefully some meat or groundnuts.  These cookies use very little sugar, which cuts down on the cost of making them.  So, with that in mind, let's head to the kitchen to bake some sweet potato cookies! :)  Disclaimer: cookies have added ingredients and are not as healthy as just eating a baked sweet potato!

Rachel ate some of the extra sweet potato
while she watched us make the cookies.
She liked it, but enjoyed the cookies better!

Micah enjoyed using the "grown up" rolling pin for the first time!
He's used to his Play Doh rolling pin.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato (any variety)
1/4 cup milk
4 Tbsp melted butter
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Mix (baked and cooled) sweet potato, milk and melted butter.  Beat well.
3. Sift and stir in remaining ingredients.
4. Refrigerate (well, I didn't and they turned out fine).
5. Turn onto floured surface, knead lightly and roll out 1/2 inch thick.
6. Cut with cookie cutters and place on greased cookie sheet.
7. Optional:  top with cinnamon and sugar
8. Bake 15 minutes.

 This recipe made about 18 cookies...and they're hard to stop eating, so I think we'll make a double recipe next time!

Ready for the oven! (cookies)
Ready to eat some! (Micah)

 Malawi is known as the "Warm heart of Africa" because of how friendly and welcoming Malawian people are.  For this reason, every recipe I've found for these cookies has encouraged making them in heart shapes.  We also added Christmas trees, stars and "wreaths" to our cookie sheet for Christmas.

Mmmm....yum!