Turkish Sand Cookies (Kurabiyes) Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup semolina or Cream of Wheat
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• OPTIONAL:
• Walnut halves or pieces

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Using an electric mixer, combine oil, sugar, and peanut butter. Beat on low speed until blended. In a separate bowl, combine flour, semolina, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt. Stir to blend. With mixer on low speed, slowly beat dry ingredients into sugar-oil mixture. (If dough is dry, add a bit more peanut butter.)
3. Shape dough into walnut-sized balls, and place one inch apart on lined baking sheet.
4. Flatten cookies slightly. Press a walnut piece into center of each cookie, if desired, or press with a cookie stamp.
5. Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, on middle oven rack until set and very light brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool for a few minutes on pan; then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.