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Almond ghriba
Crackled, chewy Moroccan almond cookies with lemon zest and icing sugar
Ghriba are the crinkle-topped cookies that fill Moroccan biscuit trays for Eid, weddings and guests dropping by for tea; the almond version, ghriba bel louz, is especially loved in Fez and Tétouan. The dough is just ground almonds, sugar, egg and lemon zest, rolled in icing sugar so the top cracks into white rivers as it bakes. They are naturally gluten free, crisp at the edge and soft and chewy inside. Chef's tip: take them out when the cracks have formed but the centres still feel soft; they firm up as they cool, and overbaked ghriba turn hard.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Step 2: Mix 9 oz ground almonds, 4 oz caster sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp lemon zest and ¼ tsp ground cinnamon in a bowl. Add 1 egg and 1 tsp orange blossom water and mix with your hand until it forms a soft, slightly sticky paste.
Step 3: With wet hands roll walnut-sized balls (about 20 g). Roll each generously in 2 ⅞ oz icing sugar so it is thickly coated; a thin dusting won't crack properly.
Step 4: Set the balls on the tray 4 cm apart and press each lightly with your thumb to flatten slightly.
Step 5: Bake for 12–15 minutes until the tops have cracked open, the cracks look pale gold and the bottoms are just colouring. Don't wait for them to feel firm; that is the most common mistake.
14 minStep 6: Cool on the tray for 10 minutes, then move to a rack. They keep for a week in an airtight tin.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 11 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does almond ghriba take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ground almonds?
- Ground cashews, same amount.
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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