Barazek Cookies

Ingredients

•        1 cup sifted sugar

•        1 cup clarified butter

•        3 cup flour, sifted

•        100ml warm water

•        ½ tsp active dried yeast

•        200g crushed pistachios

•        2 cup toasted sesame seeds

For the syrup

•        250ml water

•        200g white sugar

•        3 tbsp honey

Preparation

1.      Add the water, sugar and honey In a saucepot and bring it to a simmer. Stir a few times, remove from the heat and let it cool.

2.      Preheat the oven to 170C.

3.      Mix cream the sugar and butter together. Using an electric mixer

4.      Mix the warm water with the yeast and let it sit for a minute.

5.      Add the flour to the butter and sugar mix, then the water and yeast mix, and combine until you obtain smooth dough, which will be quite sticky.

6.      Mix the sesame seeds with half the cooled syrup in a bowl then place the seeds on a plate.

7.      Prepare another plate with the crushed pistachios.

8.      Using your fingers, dip the sticky dough in the pistachio plate first, then flip the cookie and dip it in the sesame seeds. The dough will be a little tricky but manageable.

9.      Place the cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, and bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, making sure they are golden brown. Let them cool on a tray and store in a dry place.

 H.Zoghib