Name: Halwa Chebakia: Moroccan Sesame Cookies with Honey By The Spruce Eats
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Moroccan Recipes
Ingredients: 4 cups flour; ½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; 1 soup bowl full of golden unhulled sesame seeds, toasted; 1 ½ tsp ground anise; 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon; ½ tsp saffron threads; ⅛ tsp Moroccan yellow colorant; Pinch of mastic or gum arabic grains,; 1 extra-large egg; ¼ cup butter, melted; ¼ cup olive oil; ¼ cup vinegar; ¼ cup orange flower water; 1 tsp yeast; 5 cups (4 lbs.) honey; 2 tbsp orange flower water; 6.50 vegetable oil,; ½ cup golden unhulled sesame seeds, toasted, for decorating

RatingDifficultyIntermediate

Halwa Chebakia: Moroccan Sesame Cookies with Honey By The Spruce Eats

Yields8 Servings

Prep Time1 hr 30 minsCook Time1 hrTotal Time2 hrs 30 mins

Halwa Chebakia (sometimes spelled chebbakia or shebakia) is a Moroccan sesame cookie which is shaped into a flower, fried and then coated with honey. Also known as mkharka, it's usually served during Ramadan and for special occasions. Chebakia are time-consuming to make. Most Moroccan women enlist the help of a sister, mother or friend for the preparation of a large quantity.

4 cups flourplus additional if necessary

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 soup bowl full of golden unhulled sesame seeds, toasted

1 ½ tsp ground anise

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp saffron threads, crumbled

⅛ tsp Moroccan yellow colorant (or 1/2 teaspoon turmeric)

Pinch of mastic or gum arabic grains, mixed with 1/4 tsp. of sugar and crushed into a powder

1 extra-large egg

¼ cup butter, melted

¼ cup olive oil