Graybeh is a butter cookie that is commonly eaten in the Middle East. I am highlighting simple desserts from the Middle East that are easy to make and similar to desserts many of you may have eaten. This cookie is similar to a shortbread or sugar cookie. Later we will dig deeper and try some less common and more exotic recipes.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup semolina

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup softened butter

60  almonds, blanched, peeled and toasted

powdered sugar for sprinkling on cookies

Directions

Preheat oven 325 degrees

Mix flour, semolina, powdered sugar and butter until well combined. Knead for 5 minutes.  There are several ways to make Graybeh dough into a cookie. Getting the right consistency can be tricky and you might need to experiment in order to get the perfect cookie. There are several ways that you can form this cookie. First, pinch off a small ball of dough and roll with hands into a rope.

Cut a 2 or 3 inch piece of the rope and turn it into a circle overlapping the ends. Press a toasted almond into the overlap. The second way to form a cookie, roll a small piece of dough into a ball and flatten it out. Make a hole in the middle and once again press a toasted almond into the side. The third way that we formed a cookie is by rolling a ball, flattening it out and placing toasted almonds around the cookie. Place cookies on a baking tray and in the oven, let cook for 20-25 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar