Turkish Sand Cookies (Kurabiyes)

Turkish Sand Cookies (Kurabiyes)

MAKES ABOUT 36
Melt-in-your-mouth texture with a little crunch from semolina—plus, they are vegan friendly! These simple cookies look very elegant when prepared with a decorative cookie stamp. See all five 2020 Holiday Cookie Recipe Contest Winners.

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 Ingredients

  • 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.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 110
  • Fat: 7.0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
  • Sodium: 20.0 mg
  • Carbohydrates: 13.0 g
  • Fiber: 0.0 g
  • Added Sugars: 0.0 g
  • Sugar: 6.0 g
  • Protein: 1.0 g