Fig Smushed-Anise-Almond Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup soymilk
• 2 teaspoons ground flax seeds
• 1 1/4 cups demarera sugar
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon anise extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
• 12 dried black figs (cut in half)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350. Grease two baking sheets.

2. 2

   Beat flaxseed vigorously with soy milk until frothy.

3. 3

   Add sugar and oil and beat until emulsified.

4. 4

   Mix in vanilla and anise extracts.

5. 5

   Add 1 cup of flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.

6. 6

   Add remaining flour. fold in almonds.

7. 7

   Loosely roll into golf-ball size balls and flatten to 2-inch diameter. Place on cookie sheet.

8. 8

   Gently but firmly smush half a fig cut-side down into center of each cookie.

9. 9

   Bake 12-14 minutes until fig is soft and bottom of cookie is golden brown. Tops won't brown much.

10. 10

    remove from oven, cool 5 minutes, and transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.