Friday, February 09, 2007

cookies that crack!

this cookie is one i remember well for its cracked look and its texture — it was sandy on the outside and harder in the center and i always needed a plate or a napkin to eat it. invariably, i always lost part of it, usually on the floor, when i didn't use something to catch any pieces that didn't make it into my mouth.

the following delicate cookies are generically called ghorabeya or ghoreyba [גורייבה] and are, more or less just flour of some sort, sugar and an oil or fat like butter. they bake into a shortbread-like texture and are very, very good, especially since they can be made extremely quickly. there are different kinds of ghorabeya, depending upon which country they originate. these are a sephardic turkish kind. they can be made with ground walnuts or almonds or just plain. cocoa powder is usually added also — though i haven't done it here.


ghorabeya "kon muez" אוגיות גורייבה

ingredients:

1 c cake and pastry flour
1/2 c AP flour (all purpose)
1/3 c sugar
1/8 tsp salt

3 tbsp finely ground almonds or walnuts
1 tbsp coarsely ground almonds or walnuts

1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 tsp almond extract [optional]
1 tbsp cocoa powder [optional]

2 tsp orange flower water can replace the cocoa and almond extract

method:

preheat the oven to 350F.

add the dry ingredients together in a bowl and blend.

if using the the cocoa and almond extract, add them to a small bowl first and add a little of the oil to make a paste. then add the rest of the oil.

if only using the oil, then proceed by adding it to the dry mixture and stir well.

once it is well mixed you will have a very thick textured dough.

using a tablespoon, measure out 18 or so portions and roll them tightly into balls.

place the balls on the baking sheet. you don't need to grease it.

bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. the bottoms should be lightly browned and not dark. the outsides will be a pale tan colour.

let them rest until almost cooled. this is important. don't move them or you'll wreck the cookies as they are much more delicate when warm. use a knife or spatula to move them. these can be sprinkled with powdered sugar before serving, too.

enjoy!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

WHOA!!!!! looks like a meteorite just dropped on earth and cracked LOL LOL LOL !!!

They look cute :)

BTW..... making sweet potato confessions over the weekend :)

Pamela said...

Hi Burekaboy,
Does your cookie pan come with those little target marks on it?! Cool! Those cookies look really nice, I think I have probably had them before overseas.

Anonymous said...

Whoa, if you scroll down this post quickly it looks like the cookies are moving!

At least that's what I see on my 2 hours of sleep, lol.

These look delicious my friend.

Ari (Baking and Books)

Anonymous said...

בוקר טוב לנער הבורקס

הכנתי את עוגיות הגורייבה שלך הן נהדרות וקלות להכנה
תודה על המתכון

שבוע טוב ויום נעים
סימונה

burekaboy — said...

coffee - yeah, they sort of look meteorite-ish.

hope you like the sweet potato patties :)

pammie - cool pan, eh? (that eh was especially for you! LOL). i love this pan and should have bought a few of them. there are even targets between the main ones. it was a good buy. i wouldn't be surprised if you have these before when you were overseas.

hey ari - poor you, only 2 hrs of sleep!! no wonder the cookies were moving! :P

הי סימונה - ברוכה הבאה! תודה על הביקור שלך ולהגיד לי על העוגיות. אני שמח שהן יצאו נהדרות וההכנה הייתה קלה -- זאת אחת מהסיבות שאני אוהב אותן

שבוע טוב לך גם כן -- מקווה "לראות" אותך שוב ותודה על התגובה

Beenzzz said...

Is this kind of like a Russina tea cake or a round Mexican Wedding cookie minus the powdered sugar? If so, then YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Chanita Harel חני הראל said...

היי
? נשאר משהו בשבילי
יפות יפות שבא לבכות, לא אכלתי אף פעם, אהבתי גם את התבנית שלך, תודה
AND TAHNKS FOR SHARING :-(

burekaboy — said...

beenzzz - i didn't even think of those when i wrote about making these. they are very similar but the texture is different.

חנית - אהבתי את התגובה שלך -- חבל שאכלתי את כל העוגיות לפני שהגעת אצלי
LOL צריכה לנסות להכיו אותן

באםת רציתי לקנות עוד תבניות כאלה ועכשיו לא יכול למצוא אותן - חבל כי הן נהדרות

Anonymous said...

Hi bureka! It's Lisa, Pam's sis. We make similar cookies with ground pecans and toss them in powdered sugar while still slightly warm. They're like crack for me... whenever I see them I MUST HAVE THEM. :o

Thanks for that article on ayilech too, love it when people 'discover' something new. ;)

burekaboy — said...

hey lisa! - those sound like crack to me, too :) they must be incredibly good. u better get pam to make them and post it!

i was so surprised to see that article -- thought u'd be interested in seeing it and glad to hear u liked it. it's not ur everday item, is it?

thanks for dropping in and commenting. hope to see u again.