Badem Tatlısı

Almond-Shaped Dessert 

• ½ c. Margarine or Butter at room temperature
• ½ c. Oil
• ½ c. Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp. Vanilla
• 3 ½ c. Flour
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• Semolina Flour coating
• 3 c. Sugar for syrup
• 4 c. Water for syrup
• Coconut Flakes and/or Nuts for garnish

1. Mix together Margarine/Butter, Oil, Sugar, Eggs and Vanilla.
2. Add Flour and Baking Powder. Use your hands to kneed the dough until mixed well and smooth.
3. Roll walnut-sized balls of dough, then pinch edges and slightly flatten to shape like an almond.
4. Gently roll each shaped piece of dough in Semolina Flour until coated. Place on cookie sheet with baking paper. (Makes about 30.)
5. When the tray is full, use a knife to make a slit down the middle of each shaped dough ball.
6. Bake at 335^oF for a half hour.
7. While they are baking make the syrup by combining Sugar and Water in a pot on the stove. Cook until it begins to boil, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.
8. Once you remove the baked dessert place each piece in a dish with sides (like a 9×13 dish). Gently pour the syrup over the dessert. They will begin to float, which is okay. As you let it sit they will begin to soak up the syrup.
9. Just before serving, remove each piece from the liquid and place on a nice serving platter or individual plates and garnish. Use Coconut Flakes, whole almonds, or chopped Hazelnuts or Pistachios to fill the slit on each piece of dessert.

When my neighbors called tonight to say that they would come for a surprise visit soon I quickly whipped up this dessert. It really is very easy and only took me about a half hour to get everything in the oven. The bright white of Coconut Flakes or the soft green of chopped Pistachios looks nicest as garnish. Beings as I made this quickly I didn’t have any Pistachios on hand, so used a combination of what was already in my kitchen. Have fun experimenting with garnishes!

Step #4 pictured below: coating the dough in Semolina Flour

Step #5, place on tray, slit lengthwise and then bake

Step #8, after removing from oven pour syrup on top

Ready to serve; enjoy!