Moroccan Semolina And Almond Cookies Recipes

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 ALMOND CRESCENT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, almonds, sugar, honey, almond extract, egg, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually add in the flour to form a dough (knead with clean hands if necessary-it can be sticky). Refrigerate dough for about 10 minutes, or until it is slightly firm.
• Pour seeds into a small bowl. Pinch off a walnut sized ball of dough and roll it in the sesame seeds to coat. Then, take the ball and roll it between your palms into about 2 in long pieces, tapering the ends .
• Place side by side on a cookie sheet , curving them into crescent shapes. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown, being careful not to burn.