Moroccan Cookies Recipes

GHREYBA (COCONUT MOROCCAN COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 365F / 185C and grease 2 baking trays.
• In a large bowl, mix eggs, oil, orange peel and 1-1/2 cup of icing sugar.
• Add semolina flour, grated coconut, and baking powder. Mix well.
• In a small bowl add the other 1-1/2 cup icing sugar.
• Make balls of about 1.5 inches in diameter. Roll them in icing sugar and place them on the greased trays.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven and wait 3 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack.

MOROCCAN SEMOLINA AND ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks to divide the oven into thirds, and heat it to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, whisk together semolina, almond flour, baking powder and salt.
• Put sugar in bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl in which you can use a hand mixer. Finely grate lemon zest over sugar, then rub them together with your fingertips until sugar is moist and fragrant. Add eggs and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. With mixer running, pour oil down side of the bowl and beat for another 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla and orange blossom water, if using. Turn off mixer, add half the dry ingredients and mix them in on low speed, then add the rest, mixing only until dry ingredients disappear into the dough, which will be thick.
• Sift some confectioners' sugar into a small bowl. For each cookie, spoon out a level tablespoon of dough, roll it between your palms to form a ball and dredge in sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheets, then use your thumb to push down the center of each cookie, pressing firmly enough to make an indentation and to cause the edges to crack.
• Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, rotating pans top to bottom and front to back after 8 minutes, or until cookies are ever so lightly colored: They will be golden on the bottom, puffed, dramatically cracked and just firm to the touch. Carefully lift the cookies off sheets and onto racks. Cookies will keep for about 4 days in a covered container at room temperature.

MOROCCAN TEA BISCUITS

Steps:

• Stir together sugar, butter, almonds, orange-flower water, anise seeds, extracts, and 1/4 cup sesame seeds in a large bowl. Add eggs and stir until well combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Chill dough, covered, 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Using moistened hands, halve dough and form 2 (11- by 3-inch) loaves on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with enough egg wash to coat, then sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sesame seeds.
• Bake until pale golden, about 30 minutes. Loosen from baking sheet with a spatula, then transfer loaves to a rack and cool 15 minutes. (Leave oven on.)
• Cut warm loaves into 3/4-inch slices with a serrated knife and arrange biscuits, with a cut side down, on a clean baking sheet. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.

MOROCCAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix together milk, sugar, butter and flour.
• Cook over low heat for 1 minute.
• Add almonds and orange peel.
• Drop by teaspoon onto greased and floured baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated 350° oven for 7 minutes.
• Remove cookie sheets and cool flat side up.
• Spread flat side with frosting.

MOROCCAN CINNAMON COOKIES (MANTECADOS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the flour into a large bowl.
• Make a well in the center.
• Add oil, egg, sugar and grated lemon rind.
• Knead the dough.
• Grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with some flour.
• Gently form small balls from dough and flatten a little.
• Arrange them on the sheet.
• Let stand for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cookies with cinnamon.
• Bake for 20 minutes.

MOROCCAN COOKIES - GHRIBA

Steps:

• Steps: 1- Roast the sesame seeds on low heat for 2-3 minutes stirring consistently until they become golden brown. 2- Melt the butter. 3- Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and sesame seeds. 4- Add the butter and the oil. Work the dough for 10-15 minutes until you get a grainy texture. Rest: 5- Cover the dough and let it rest for 2-3 hours. Final steps: 6- re-work the dough for couple of minutes. 7- Make small balls with the dough (if you find it difficult add some oil) and put them on your pan covered with a parchment paper. 8- Preheat your oven at 375 degrees. Bake the Ghriba for 15 minutes or until it takes a light golden color. Presentation: These cookies taste amazing with Moroccan tea. Step by Step video: www.cookingwithalia.com