Lebanese butter cookies (ghraybeh)

These simple shortbread-like biscuits, subtly scented with orange blossom water, are incredibly more-ish. They are just as good when flavoured with vanilla or rosewater, to taste, too.

Lebanese butter cookies (ghraybeh) Credit: Alan Benson

• makes

  30

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  20 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 125 g butter, softened
• 90 g (¾ cup) icing sugar, sifted
• 200 g (1⅓ cup) plain flour, sifted
• 1 tbsp orange blossom water, or to taste
• 30 whole blanched almonds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, icing sugar and orange flower water until pale and creamy. Add the flour and mix on lowest possible speed until just combined.

Roll 2 teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls and place on the lined trays. Press a whole almond into each biscuit to flatten slightly.

Bake the biscuits for about 20 minutes, swapping the trays halfway through baking, until pale golden and cooked through. Cool on the trays.

Baker’s tips

• These biscuits will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Photography by Alan Benson. Styling by Sarah O'Brien. Food preparation by Tina McLeish.

This recipe is part of our Bakeproof: Lebanese column.

View previous Bakeproof columns and recipes here.

Anneka's mission is to connect home cooks with the magic of baking, and through this, with those they love. 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.

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.