Almond and Sesame Cookies
Among the lovers of almond meal I am the most passionate. The first time I made these cookies with my mom as a child there was no such thing as almond meal in our grocery store. I believe there still isn’t. We bought our almonds, blanched, peeled and ground them to a powder. The process was lengthy but well worth it. Now that I’m able to use almond meal, these cookies take me five to ten minutes to make. And I’m not the fastest person you’d ever meet.
When I saw these cookies in Nadji’s blog, saveurs et gourmandises, in their original cornes de gazelle shape, I was inspired. I felt a need, a necessity, an imminent life or death urgency to make them. So I made them, completely changing the shape but only slightly the ingredients. They were as good as those I had in my childhood, those I shaped with my mother a million different ways.
Gluten-Free Almond and Sesame Cookies Recipe
Makes 16 cookies
2 cups almond meal (available at WF)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil)
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons orange blossom water
1/2 cup white sesame seeds, lightly toasted
In a large bowl, combine the almond meal, cinnamon and salt together. Stir in the butter, honey and orange blossom water. The mixture should be moist enough to shape between your hands. Form into small balls, the size of a walnut. Roll each almond ball into sesame seeds.
Serve with hot mint tea or spiced coffee.
Refrigerate leftovers.
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Mary B — 08/19/2010 @ 8:01 pm
These sound awesome! They can be my cooking project this weekend.
Nisrine Merzouki — 08/19/2010 @ 8:12 pm
I think they're going to be mine too for the second time this week. They're easy and so good. You don't even need to bake them.
MaryMoh — 08/19/2010 @ 8:12 pm
These cookies look very delicious. I love sesame seeds…..love the flavour. I hardly tried baking with almond meal.Would love to try, Thanks very much for sharing.
Eliana — 08/19/2010 @ 8:17 pm
These look perfect and like they are so quick and easy to make. Can't wait to try them for myself.
Nisrine Merzouki — 08/19/2010 @ 8:23 pm
Totally, ladies! Try them, please!!
Rachana — 08/19/2010 @ 9:05 pm
These cookies look so elegant and they are so quick and easy to make. Wow!
Reeni — 08/19/2010 @ 11:56 pm
I have a love for almond meal – the flavor just makes me swoon. These no bake cookies look scrumptious! Love the cute picture too.
Bria @ West of Persia — 08/20/2010 @ 12:52 am
Oh gosh, these look so amazing, Nisrine. And no bake and gluten free! Perfect for the summer and Ramadan season. I've had them before. Love the name–it translates to Gazelle's horns, right?
Kerstin — 08/20/2010 @ 2:07 am
I'm a huge almond meal fan too! I love the extra flavor it adds to baked goods. Your cookies look fabulous!
Sonia (Nasi Lemak Lover) — 08/20/2010 @ 4:26 am
cookies with sesame seeds, I'm sure it taste delicious !
Nisrine Merzouki — 08/20/2010 @ 11:52 am
Bria-yes they're gazelle horns or cornes de gazelle. The ones you had were probably baked; that's how they're traditionally made. I just like them better uncooked.
Cara — 08/20/2010 @ 3:53 pm
yum! I have a jar of honey tahini in the fridge – I wonder if that would work as a binder in place of the butter and tahini here. Sounds simple enough to try.
Amanda Hawkins — 08/20/2010 @ 3:57 pm
Ok, these cookies must be a little magic because I get that same "must bake soon!" feeling. They remind me slightly of the peanut butter balls I grew up on, most likely the American version of this lovely treat. Thanks!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — 08/20/2010 @ 8:27 pm
I like your blog! I visited Morocco a few years ago and it was a fantastic experience. My favorite Moroccan food was vegetable tagines. Is that even correct? You probably know what I'm talking about. Anyway, lovely blog. And cute shoes. :)
Fimère — 08/21/2010 @ 7:48 pm
j'aime bien cette version en plus ils doivent être succulents, j'accours avec une tasse de café
bonne soirée
Sara @onetribegourmet — 08/21/2010 @ 9:20 pm
Hi Nisrine! I love your blog and Moroccan cuisine!!! I was in Fes this past June and fell in love with the country, the friendly people & the cuisine!! I miss it so much! I took some cooking lessons and will be posting Moroccan recipes on my blog as well…everything I learned while I was in Fes! We made these almond cookies in my class too!
I hope to go back soon!! :)
Is Amazon the best way to order your book online, I would love to own a copy of your lovely cook book!!
my e-mail address: onetribegourmet@gmail.com
Nisrine Merzouki — 08/22/2010 @ 1:54 am
Lindsay-yes that's correct. They're called vegetable tagines and they're so good. The cute shoes are Moroccan artisanal babouches. Aren't the colors lovely?
Fimère-ils sont en effet bien succulents. J'en salive devant mon écran à chaque fois…
Sara-Fes is so culturally rich and its cuisine is quite distinguished. Definitely a wonderful city to visit.
Amazon is the best way to buy Marrakesh Express.
Sara — 08/22/2010 @ 8:32 pm
I ordered your book yesterday via Amazon! Looking forward to it! :)
Cheers,
Sara
Susan from Food Blogga — 08/23/2010 @ 2:20 am
I love any kind of almond cookies, but with sesame seeds too? Oh, I'm so there!
Caffettiera — 08/23/2010 @ 2:19 pm
I love almond cookies, and the simplicity of these is really appealing. If anybody tried them with tahini, like Cara suggested, let me know: I am in a tahini obsessed period.
Thanks!
Nisrine Merzouki — 08/23/2010 @ 8:45 pm
Cara and Caffetiera, I bet tahini would taste great in these cookies. They'd be bursting with sesame flavor. I have yet to try this variation.
Nisrine Merzouki — 08/23/2010 @ 11:22 pm
Sara, thank you. I hope you enjoy it.
Velva — 08/24/2010 @ 12:53 am
Wow, these almond cookies look absolutely delightful. Very nice.
Mademoiselle Poirot — 08/24/2010 @ 8:51 am
Bonjour Nisrine. Oh, it's taking me far too long to make the rounds of my favourite blogs after my break…sorry ;-) Those biscuits sound lovely and I love almonds and sesame, yum. The picture with the shoes is really nice too and very vibrant. Hope you have a good week. Bisous & Love from London, Carole xo
Katie@Cozydelicious — 08/24/2010 @ 12:36 pm
These cookies sound amazing. I, too, am a huge almond fan! I love the idea of nibbling on one with a glass of mint tea. So simple but wonderfully exotic. What a treat!
Nadji — 08/26/2010 @ 9:54 pm
Merci pour le clin d'oeil.
J'aime beaucoup ta version sans cuisson et en forme de boules.
Je testerai prochainement.
A bientôt.
Cara — 09/22/2010 @ 3:31 pm
I am new here:) What is "orange blossom water"?
Nisrine Merzouki — 09/23/2010 @ 1:05 am
Cara, it's distilled water flavored with the blossoms from the orange tree. It's a bit similar to rose water.