Our Family Practice

This cookie board started the way many things do in our home.  With the desire to make something special to show our love through effort.

I wanted a dessert that felt festive but familiar, impressive but comforting. Something that worked for different tastes, different ages, and different dietary needs. Most importantly, everything had to be eggless, to accommodate members of the family who follow a Jain diet.

What came together was a cookie board filled with classic and familiar tastes.  Nothing fancy. Just thoughtful.

What Was on the Cookie Board

Here’s everything I included, all eggless:
Gingerbread cookies with simple icing
Andes double chocolate cookies
Classic shortbread
Chocolate chip cookies
Shortbread truffles dipped in candy cane Hershey’s Kiss chocolate
Paan filled shortbread
Lemon filled shortbread

It looks like a lot, but most of these cookies are based on one or two doughs, shaped and finished differently.

The Base Eggless Shortbread Dough (Used for Multiple Cookies)

This dough is the backbone of the board.

Ingredients
One cup unsalted butter softened
Half cup powdered sugar
Two cups all purpose flour
Half teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt

Instructions
Cream the butter and powdered sugar until light.
Add vanilla and salt.
Mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
Chill for thirty minutes before shaping.
This dough was used for: Plain shortbread
Paan filled shortbread
Lemon filled shortbread
Shortbread truffles
Plain Eggless Shortbread
Roll dough to about half inch thickness.
Cut into rectangles or squares.
Bake at 325°F for fifteen to eighteen minutes until just lightly golden.
Let cool completely before handling.

Paan/Lemon Curd Filled Shortbread
Finely chop paan mixture until paste like.
Roll shortbread dough into even logs and press down the center all the way down.

Bake at 325°F for about eighteen minutes.

Add paan or lemon to the center in a line and then chop the cookies horizontally. Drizzle icing back and forth.

These are subtle, fragrant, and perfect for adults who appreciate something different.

Shortbread Truffles with Candy Cane Chocolate
These were a favorite.
Crumble baked shortbread cookies.
Mix with just enough frosting or condensed milk to bind.
Roll into small balls.
Chill for thirty minutes.
Melt candy cane Hershey’s Kisses gently.
Dip each truffle and let set.
They taste like peppermint shortbread fudge.

Eggless Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
Three cups all purpose flour
Three quarter teaspoon baking soda
One tablespoon ginger
Two teaspoons cinnamon
Quarter teaspoon cloves
Half teaspoon salt
Half cup butter softened
Three quarter cup brown sugar
Half cup molasses
Half cup milk

Instructions
Cream butter and sugar.
Add molasses and milk.
Mix dry ingredients separately and combine.
Chill dough before rolling.
Roll, cut, and bake at 350°F for eight to ten minutes.
Cool completely before icing.

Simple Eggless Icing
Two cups powdered sugar
Two tablespoons milk
Half teaspoon vanilla
Mix until smooth and pipe or spread.

Andes Double Chocolate Eggless Cookies
Ingredients
Half cup butter
Half cup sugar
Half cup brown sugar
Quarter cup milk
One teaspoon vanilla
One and a half cups flour
Half cup cocoa powder
Half teaspoon baking soda
Pinch salt
Chopped Andes mints

Instructions
Cream butter and sugars.
Add milk and vanilla.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Fold in Andes pieces.
Bake at 350°F for ten to twelve minutes.

Soft, rich, and perfect for the center of the board.

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies
Use your favorite eggless chocolate chip recipe or adapt one by replacing eggs with milk or yogurt. I keep these simple and classic for the kids. I’ll share a separate recipe for these!

How I Assembled the Cookie Board
I used one long wooden tray and worked from the center outward.

The richest cookies went in the middle.
Lighter shortbread varieties framed the sides.
Truffles and chocolates filled gaps.
The kids and I made cookies envelopes from wrapping paper.
Nothing was overly styled. The goal was abundance, not perfection.

Why I Love Cookie Boards Like This
They feel generous without being overwhelming.
Everyone finds something they like.
And they invite people to linger.
This board wasn’t about showing off. It was about creating a moment to remember and bringing joy with different flavors.
And that’s usually how the best things in our home come together.