Best Butter Cookies From North Africa Ghreyba Recipes

THE PERFECT GHORAYEBA

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 120C/248F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon mats
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl and an electric hand mixer), add the flour and powdered sugar, and whisk together to combine.
• Add in the ghee and mix on low speed until a crumbly dough starts to form. Continue beating for 5 minutes. I actually set a timer for this. The dough will start out very crumbly then stiff, but will soften up as the mixing progresses.
• Raise the speed to medium-high and mix for another 5 minutes. Then turn back the speed to low and continue beating for another 5 minutes. The dough needs to mix for a total of 15 minutes, or until very smooth with absolutely no lumps, and transforms to the consistency of thick cake batter and resembles smooth hummus dip. It will be sticky, and not dough-like, so don't be tempted to add more flour.
• Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip (I use Ateco 808). Holding the piping bag at a 90-degree angle over the prepared baking sheets, pipe 3.5-4 cm rounds of dough, spacing them 2cm apart. If the rounds are cracking as you're piping, it means that the dough needs to be beaten for longer (For alternate shaping methods, refer to recipe notes 4 and 5). Refrigerate the baking sheet until the dough rounds are no longer sticky to the touch, but is still soft; 5 to 10 minutes.
• Using a lightly floured finger, gently tap on the peaks to flatten. Press a pistachio half (or whole if you like) in the middle of dough round.
• Bake for 17 minutes, just until the cookies look set. The color should still remain off-white and the bottoms should not take on any color. They will feel set to the touch, but not hard and will leave dough residue on your finger if you touch them. Don't worry, this will go out away once the cookies have cooled. It is really important not to over-bake these cookies, or they'll end up really tough and hard. (Since each oven runs differently and it's difficult to judge when they're done, it is recommended that you bake a test batch of 8 or so first, to figure out the perfect baking duration for your oven. Mine are perfect after exactly 17 minutes, but that might not be the case for everyone).
• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets. If you need the baking sheet for another batch, just slide the parchment paper with the cookies off on to a counter to continue to cool completely. Ghorayeba will continue to bake as they cool, so be sure to allow them to come to complete room temp before sampling.
• Leave the cookies out for at least two hours or even overnight before storing or boxing, so the thin layer of film around them can set and disappear.
• Store ghorayeba in a regular container or box (not airtight) for 2 to 3 weeks at room temperature. Texture improves after the second day they're baked. The surface becomes smoother and the cookies get softer overall.

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.

THE BEST BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and granulated sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for a full 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl halfway through the mixing; the butter should be very light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients and beat on low speed to combine. Scrape down the mixing bowl before adding the remaining dry ingredients and beat to combine. Refrigerate for 1 hour in the bowl for drop cookies, or form into a 1-inch log for slice-and-bake cookies.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the turbinado sugar in a small bowl. For drop cookies, scoop the cookie dough with a 1 tablespoon-size cookie scoop and then dip the tops of the cookie dough balls into the sugar. Place onto the prepared baking sheet.
• For slice-and-bake cookies, cut the log into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Press the tops into the sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake the cookies until slightly puffed and lightly golden on the bottom, about 15 minutes.

BUTTER COOKIES FROM NORTH AFRICA (GHREYBA)

Steps:

• Mix oil or butter and sugar well.
• Add flour gradually and mix.
• Shape into little balls and press down gently to flatten into shape.
• Garnish with an almond.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes.