Turkish Cookies (2)

To make delicious and attractive cookies, start by mixing the sifted flour with the baking powder in a large bowl. This will ensure a fluffy and even texture for the dough. Next, add the other ingredients: sugar, softened butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Use a spatula or a mixer on low speed to combine all the ingredients until you get a homogeneous dough that doesn't stick to your hands.

If you want to create two-colored cookies, divide the dough into two equal portions. In one of them, incorporate sifted cocoa, mixing well to achieve an even chocolate shade. Alternatively, if you prefer chocolate cookies, add cocoa to the entire dough, mixing until the color becomes consistent. For a colorful variant, add a few drops of food coloring to the white dough, being careful to achieve the desired shade.

Once you have finished preparing the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest in the freezer for 20 minutes or in the refrigerator for an hour. This step is essential, as it will make the dough easier to handle. After cooling, remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured work surface, forming a sheet about 1 cm thick. Using a round cutter or a glass, cut out discs with a diameter of 4-5 cm.

Arrange the discs in an Indian pattern, slightly overlapping them. For two-colored cookies, alternate the white discs with the cocoa ones. Gently roll the dough, starting from the uncovered disc, being careful not to distort their shape. Before rolling, you can add various fillings between the discs, such as jam, marmalade, a mixture of beaten egg whites with sugar and nuts, Turkish delight, or chopped nuts.

After rolling, cut each roll in half, rounding the cut side slightly, which will form the base of the rose. Transfer each "rose" to a muffin tray lined with special papers, base down, and gently spread out the "petals". Leave the tray in the refrigerator for about 25 minutes to maintain the shape of the roses and avoid deforming the dough during baking.

For an extra flavor, you can sprinkle granulated sugar, vanilla sugar, or powdered cinnamon on top. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake the cookies for about 15 minutes or until they become slightly golden. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a rack. These delights are perfect to be enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee, bringing a touch of joy in every bite.