EASTER COOKIES | كعك العيد
Recipe
Ingredients
4 Kg fine semolina (Ferkha)
1.5 Kg Flour
2.5 Kg c of confectioner's sugar
2 Tbsp Yeast
1 Tbsp Mahleb
1 Tbsp Nutmeg
1 Tbsp crushed cloves
4 tsp Mastic
1.6 Kg Ghee
500 g Butter
6.5 cups Milk
Method
Mix all the dry ingredients. Gradually add the melted butter and ghee with a scrubbing motion until all the dough is sand-like in texture. Gradually add the warm milk and knead until the dough is homogenous.
Rest overnight.
Knead the dough again until it gets warmer. Take smaller portions and start forming into rings. To make the pattern, press the rings on a strainer and align on trays.
Place the trays into a pre-heated oven and bake until your easter cookies are golden.
Twisted method
For a twist from the traditional recipe, shape the Kaak into disks: round shapes, no hole, and bake.
After cooling, make a sandwiched ice cream cookie.
Layer 1: Cookie disk.
Layer 2: Ashta or Mastic ice cream.
Layer 3: Cookie disk.
Garnish the edges with crushed pistachios or other nuts.
Tips
Make sure to scrub the dough thoroughly until no lumps are appearing before adding the milk. The flour and dry ingredients should absorb all the ghee and butter. You will know the flour is ready when it slightly changes color.
Remove the cookies from the oven before you think they are the right color. They will keep browning even when out.
After baking, place the easter cookies on a cool flat surface, or a rack. They will seem soft at first but then will get crispier as they cool.
