Almond ghoribas

These "very Moroccan" cookies are dead-easy to make, but still special with the addition of orange flower water. They have a crisp macaroon-like character that softens and becomes chewy the longer they're kept.

These "very Moroccan" cookies are dead-easy to make, but still special with the addition of orange blossom water. Credit: Alan Benson

• makes

  30

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  30 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 240 g (1½ cups) blanched almonds, plus 30 extra to decorate (optional)
• 125 g (1 cup) pure icing sugar, plus 2 tbsp extra to coat
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tsp orange flower water

Cooling time 5 minutes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line two large oven trays with non-stick baking paper.

Spread the almonds on one of the baking trays and toast in preheated oven, shaking the tray occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden and aromatic. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly.

Use a food processor to process the almonds until finely ground. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl.

Sift together the icing sugar and baking powder over the almond meal. Add the egg yolks and orange flower water and use an electric mixer to beat until well combined and a soft dough forms. Roll heaped teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls. Roll in the extra icing sugar to coat lightly and then place on the lined oven trays about 5 cm apart. Flatten the balls until about 1 cm-thick and then press a whole extra almond into the center of each, if desired.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, swapping the trays around halfway through baking, or until lightly golden around the edges and cracked on top. Remove form the oven and cool on the trays.

Baker’s tips

• These ghoribas will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

• For a slightly soft centre bake these biscuits for only 16 minutes. 

Anneka's mission is to connect home cooks with the magic of baking, and through this, with those they love. Read our interview with her or for hands-on baking classes and baking tips, visit her at BakeClub. Don't miss what's coming out of her oven via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Photography by Alan Benson. Styling by Lynsey Fryers. Food preparation by Trish McLeish.

Traveller teakin (tea towel) from Ponyrider.

For more recipes, view our online column, Bakeproof: Moroccan spice.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.