Have you ever thought of cooking your Christmas presents? For the last three years I’ve been baking my presents and I have to say it’s been a success.
I’ve made Panettone ( a typical italian recipe for Christmas), tangerine syrup, limoncello, special breads, cakes and a wide variety of cookies but, amongst my favorite, there are these rolled barley cookies. After a couple of days they become even more fragrant and crispy. Wrapping cookies is fun, you can use, ceramic jars, tin boxes or parchment paper or little cardboard boxes, and the nicest thing you can do to complete your present is to write on a little card the recipe you’re giving. 
Rolled Barley Cookies: Homemade Christmas Gift
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
Description
These fragrant and crispy rolled barley cookies make a delightful homemade Christmas gift, perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
- 70g (2/3 cup) plain flour or 60g (1/2 cup) whole wheat flour
- 70g (3/4 cup) rolled barley
- 70ml (1/4 cup) vegetable oil
- 70ml (2/3 cup) maple syrup, malt, or molasses
- 50g (3/4 cup) raisins
- 50g (1/3 cup) chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a bowl, mix the flour with the rolled barley, raisins, chocolate chips, and baking soda.
- In another bowl, mix all the liquid ingredients: vegetable oil, egg, and syrup.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.
- Allow to cool on a wire rack before serving or packaging as gifts.
Notes
- These cookies become even more fragrant and crispy after a couple of days.
- They can be stored in ceramic jars, tin boxes, or wrapped in parchment paper.
- Consider writing the recipe on a card to include with your gift.
- You can substitute maple syrup with malt or molasses for different flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Cuisine: Scandinavian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 10
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
- Holiday Cookies With a Kick: Chili Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Chocolate-Loaded Almond Joy Cookies
- Lavender and Lemon-Poppy Seed Cookies
- Filled Maple Cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rolled barley and where can I find it?
Rolled barley is barley grain that has been steamed and flattened, similar to rolled oats but with a slightly nuttier, earthier flavor. It can usually be found in health food stores, bulk bins, or ordered online.
The article says the cookies become more fragrant and crispy after a couple of days—why is that?
As the cookies rest in an airtight container, moisture redistributes and the sugars from the maple syrup (or malt or molasses) crystallize slightly on the surface, deepening the flavor and crunch. This resting period is also why they make such good gifts.
Can I swap the maple syrup for something else?
Yes—the recipe explicitly lists maple syrup, malt, or molasses as interchangeable options. Molasses will make the cookies darker and more robustly flavored; malt syrup gives a milder, slightly sweet-grainy taste.
Mmmm…I’m going to try these. Barley has a very low glycemic index…Thanks, Dorie