shaker churek cookie from Azerbaijan
The traditional shaker churek cookie from Azerbaijan is one of the most popular cookies in the country. It is almost always baked during Nowruz, a feast to celebrate the beginning of spring. The preparations for this celebration often start 4 weeks in advance. Every Tuesday of the month before Nowruz, festive rituals are performed that relate to the four elements: water, earth, fire and air. During the evening before Nowruz it is the tradition to eat seven dishes that start with the letter S. The Shaker churek cookie is often included. You can make this easy cookie with just a few ingredients. Just before baking, dab the cookie with a a little bit of egg yolk and sprinkle generously with icing sugar before serving.
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shaker churek cookie from Azerbaijan
For ± 8 cookies
140 g / 10 tbsp butter
1 egg (M)
100 g / 1 cup icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract or ¼ tsp vanilla powder
225 g / 1 ¾ cup flour
Melt the butter in a small pan.
Separate the egg.
Mix the butter with the icing sugar and then add the vanilla, egg whites, half of the egg yolk and the flour.
Mix well and leave to rest in the fridge for ± 1 hour to firm up.
Preheat the oven to 180 °C / 350 °F. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Form 8 balls of ± 45 g (the size of a large walnut) from the dough and place them on the baking sheet. Leave enough space between the cookies because they will spread. Make a small indentation in each ball and dab with a little egg yolk.
Bake in the middle of the oven for 15-20 min. until lightly browned. Take the shaker churek cookies out of the oven and leave to cool on the cookie sheet. Dust with icing sugar.
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