Lebanese Easter Cookies - FlavorBiscuit

Description

These cookies from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley are ring-shaped semolina treats flavored with rose water, orange blossom water, spices, and black sesame seeds.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds butter

• 4 cups white sugar

• 1 cup water

• 9 cups semolina flour

• 8 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup black sesame seeds

• 1 1/2 tablespoons quick rise yeast

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground mahleb

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

• cooking spray

• 1/4 cup rose water

• 1/4 cup orange flower water

• 1 cup warm water

Directions

1 Melt butter in a small saucepan 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 mixture, sesame seeds, yeast, cinnamon, mahleb, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and allspice; stir slowly for about 10 minutes to thoroughly blend ingredients. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave dough in the bowl to rest for 1 hour.

3 Grease 3 baking sheets with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

4 Pour rose water and orange flower water into a small bowl. Pour warm water into a second small bowl.

5 Transfer dough to a floured board or work surface. Pull off about 1 cup dough. Dip your fingers in warm water and knead dough for a few minutes; dip dough in flower water and knead again until dough is soft and pliable.

6 Use the palm of your hand to roll dough into a rope 12 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Cut rope in half and make a wreath-shaped cookie with each piece, pinching the ends together. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover cookies with a clean towel and place in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.

7 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove baking sheets from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature while the oven preheats.

8 Bake cookies in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.