Ghraybeh (Arabic Shortbread Cookies)
Delicious ghraybeh, with an option to fill them with date paste. A simple homemade recipe—light, tender, and easy to prepare.
Ghraybeh made at home — delicious and easy. You can make them plain or filled with dates.
Ingredients
Start here, then move straight into the method.
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups ghee (or vegetable shortening)
- 1 1/4 cups powdered (confectioners') sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Shelled pistachios, crushed, for garnish
- Date filling
- Date paste mixed with 1 tablespoon orange blossom water and 1 tablespoon ghee (or butter)
- For more delicious desserts see: Chocolate cupcake recipe
- For Athmaliya (also called Basma) see this link Athmaliya (Basma)
Method
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- Cream the ghee and sugar with a tablespoon of vanilla until the mixture turns pale white.
- Add the flour and mix without over-kneading so the dough remains slightly soft.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for half an hour to one hour.
- Shape the ghraybeh as desired; if you want to fill them with dates, make a cavity in each small cookie ball just like when stuffing kibbeh, then fill it with the date mixture, close it and roll it in crushed pistachios.
- Place the ghraybeh on parchment paper on a baking tray and bake for only 15 minutes, watching closely so they do not brown.Timers: 15 min
- Serve after they have cooled to room temperature.
- Israa Salem Smak
- For more delicious sweets, here is the link: How to make chocolate cupcakes
- To make uthmaliyya dessert, here is this link: Uthmaliyya or 'Basma'
Recipe tags
Notes and serving ideas
- Chocolate cupcake recipe
- Athmaliya (Basma)






