Lebanese Easter Cookies

  4.0 – 2 reviews  • Lebanese

An easy and affordable lunch is this linguine with clam sauce. Try the clam sauce with any type of pasta; the lemon-pepper linguine is particularly delicious. Add 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the sauce to stretch it for larger servings.

Prep Time: 2 hrs
Cook Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 10 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 60
Yield: 60 cookies

Ingredients

  1. 1 ½ pounds butter
  2. 4 cups white sugar
  3. 1 cup water
  4. 9 cups semolina flour
  5. 8 cups all-purpose flour
  6. 1 ½ tablespoons quick rise yeast
  7. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  8. ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  9. ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  10. ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  11. ½ teaspoon allspice
  12. 1 teaspoon ground mahleb
  13. ¼ cup black sesame seeds
  14. ¼ cup rose water
  15. ¼ cup orange flower water
  16. 1 cup warm water

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in sugar and water; continue stirring to dissolve sugar. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  2. Measure flours into a large bowl. Add melted butter, yeast, spices, and sesame seeds; stir slowly for about 10 minutes to thoroughly blend ingredients. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave dough in bowl to rest for 1 hour.
  3. Prepare 3 baking sheets with cooking spray or parchment paper. In a small bowl, pour the rose water and orange flower water. Pour the warm water in to a second small bowl. Working on a floured board, pull off about 1 cup of dough. Dip your fingers first in the warm water and knead the dough a few minutes; then dip the dough in the flower water and knead it again until the dough is soft and pliable.
  4. Use the palm of your hand to roll the ball of dough into a rope 12 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Cut the rope in half and make a wreath-shaped cookie with each one, pinching the ends together. Place on a baking sheet. When you have filled a baking sheet, cover the cookies with a clean towel and refrigerate overnight to rest the dough.
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove baking sheets from the refrigerator to warm up while the oven preheats. Bake cookies in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
  6. Mahleb is a spice made from ground black cherry pits (from a type of tree that grows in the Near East, not North America). Used to flavor baked goods with a subtle, sweet/nutty taste, it can be found in Greek or Middle Eastern ethnic markets.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 198 kcal
Carbohydrate 26 g
Cholesterol 24 mg
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Protein 2 g
Saturated Fat 6 g
Sodium 66 mg
Sugars 13 g
Fat 10 g
Unsaturated Fat 0 g

Reviews

Eric Reyes
i like to bake these
Shannon Erickson
this is a good recipe,in Lebanon we make big quatity to serve the neighbours and guests on easter day.

 

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