Moroccan Spiced Sandwich Cookies Recipes

MOROCCAN SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, salt, ras-el-hanout and cinnamon into a small bowl.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together butter and sugar.
• Add almond (or vanilla) extract and whisk until fluffy.
• Stir in flour mixture and mold dough into a ball.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls and roll lightly in sugar if desired.
• Place cookies on parchment-lined cookie sheet.
• Flatten cookies with bottom of glass or back of fork and press a whole almond into center of each cookie.
• Bake 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.

MOROCCAN CINNAMON COOKIES (MANTECADOS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the flour into a large bowl.
• Make a well in the center.
• Add oil, egg, sugar and grated lemon rind.
• Knead the dough.
• Grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with some flour.
• Gently form small balls from dough and flatten a little.
• Arrange them on the sheet.
• Let stand for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cookies with cinnamon.
• Bake for 20 minutes.

MOROCCAN SPICED SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add powdered sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the orange peel; beat well. Gradually add flour, anise and salt, beating until combined. Stir in nuts. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350°F. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 2-inch 8-point star-shaped cookie cutter, rerolling dough once. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts 1 inch apart.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until firm to the touch. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• In small bowl, mix frosting and remaining 1/2 teaspoon orange peel. For each sandwich cookie, spread about 1 teaspoon frosting on bottom of 1 cookie. Top with second cookie, bottom side down; gently press together. Let stand until set. Store tightly covered at room temperature.