Barazik Al Sham

It was Syrian cuisine at Walima cooking club this month. As usual we were given 1 savory and 1 sweet recipe the savory recipe was for 'the spring Kibbeh' and the sweet Barazik Al sham. And this months challenge was brought to us by Nisrine of Nisrine's Blog and Mona . I really wanted to try the spring Kibbeh...but as I could not find all the ingredients mentioned in the recipe, I decided to make it later when I find the ingredients coz I wanted to make it exactly the authentic way. And thus, I decided to go for Barzik Al sham/ Syrian cookies. Thanks Nisrine and Mona for this month's challenge. The cookies were yummy and something different and my Son loved these cookies. And as usual before we go to the recipe, a little peek into Syrian Cuisine....
The Syrian cuisine is rich and varies in its ingredients which is linked to the region of Syria where a specific dish has originated. Syrian food mostly consists of Southern Mediterranean, Greek, and Southwest Asian dishes. Some Syrian dishes also evolved from Turkish and French cooking. Dishes like shish kebab, stuffed zucchini, yabra' (stuffed grape leaves, the word yapra' derives from the Turkish word 'yaprak' meaning leaf).
The main dishes that form the Syrian cuisine are kibbeh, wara' Inab, hummus, Syrians often serve selections of appetizers, known as mezza, before the main course. Zaatar, minced beef, and cheese manakish are popular hors d'œuvres. The Arabic flatbread khobz is always eaten together with mezza. Syrians are also well-known for their cheese. The very popular string cheese jibbneh mashallale is made of curd cheese and is pulled and twisted together. Syrians also make cookies to usually accompany their cheese called ka'ak. These are made of farina and other ingredients, rolled out, shaped into rings and baked. Another form of a similar cookie is to fill with crushed dates mixed with butter to accompany their jibbneh mashallale. Drinks in Syria vary depending on the time of the day and the occasion. Arabic coffee, also known as Turkish coffee is the most well-known hot drink usually prepared in the morning at breakfast or in the evening. It is usually served for guests or after food. Syrian beverages include Ayran, Jallab, and White coffee.
BARAZIL AL SHAM / SYRIAN COOKIES

Ingredients:

200 gm soft butter,
¼ cup powder sugar,
2 large eggs,
1 tsp pure vanilla,
3 cup of sifted all purpose flour,
1 tsp baking powder,
2 tsp white vinegar,
1 cup of chopped pistachios,
1 cup of sesame seeds and
a pinch of salt.

Method:

In a mixer add the soft butter and the icing sugar and mix to combine, add the eggs and mix well. Add the vinegar and vanilla.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder add them to the mix well so that they all combined to nice dough. Put the dough in the fridge to rest for one hour.

Take the dough out of the fridge and turn it into small balls.

In separate bowls add around ½ cup of sesame seeds and 1 cup of sliced pistachios. Using the palm of your hand, flatten the round cookies and dip the bottom side with chopped pistachios and the top with sesame seeds.
Bake in preheated 350F oven for 10-13 minutes depends on your oven, or till golden brown.

Note:
Some recipes ask for honey syrup to brush the top before dipping in sesame seeds…It will give a darker golden color.
For step by step pic visit, see Nisrine's post here.