Orange Sesame Cookies

Ingredients

• 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup orange juice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon ground mahleb
• 1 cup oil or melted butter
• Sesame seeds for topping — optional
• For more of Najwa's tried-and-true recipes, see Eggless Chocolate Cake — have you tried cake without eggs? If not, don't worry — our recipe is foolproof.

Method

1. Place all the ingredients together in a large bowl and mix/knead until you have a smooth, soft, cohesive dough.
2. Lightly oil your hands so the dough won't stick while shaping. Make small rounds from the dough and roll or shape them as desired.
3. Dip or sprinkle the tops of the cookies with sesame seeds.
4. Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a preheated oven at 140°C (about 285°F), keeping an eye on them.
5. When the cookies begin to color or turn golden, remove them from the oven.
6. Allow the orange sesame cookies to cool to room temperature before serving.