Algerian Cuisine: Roses

It is the Algerian tradition to celebrate with sweets. Holidays, weddings, births, you name it, we bake it! The more variety, the better. It’s not uncommon to see 5-10 different almond/walnut sweets at Algerian celebrations. I tried these for the first time, although it takes practice to make them look as actual roses, they are worth it!


WHAT YOU NEED

Dough

3 Cups of Flour
1 Cup of Melted Butter
1 Teaspoon of Salt
1 Tablespoon of Sugar
3-5 Tablespoons of Orange Blossom Water (OB)
Red/Blue Food Coloring

Mix flour, salt, and sugar, then add the melted butter. Knead the dough well, and add the OB slowly. Mix red and blue food coloring (3:1 ratio) to get a rose color. Set aside to prepare filling

Filling

1 Cup of Ground Walnuts
1/3 Cup of Confectioner Sugar
Zest of 1 Lemon (I used orange)
1-2 Teaspoons of Orange Blossom Water (OB)


Mix the first three ingredients then add OB slowly. Mixture should not be too soft or too sticky but smooth when you roll it in your hand.

Syrup

1 Cup of Honey
1 Tablespoon of Orange Blossom Water (OB)

Melt honey in the microwave for about 45 seconds so it liquefies, then add OB.

LET’S GET STARTED

1) Pre-heat oven to 350, butter a tray then sprinkle with flour and set aside.
2) Roll the dough on a flat surface, use a cookie cutter or something circular to cut our even circles ( I used my napkin ring holder)
3) Place 5 circles overlapping each other
4) Roll the walnut mixture in a thin log and place in lower half of the circles
5) Roll the circles slowly from one end to the other, then cut the ending with a sharp knife. Place on tray, and repeat.
6) Bake for about 20-25 minutes
7) As soon as it comes out of the oven, dip the roses in the honey syrup then set aside on wax paper and voila!

This should make about 25-30 roses!

Enjoy!

(Click on Image to view a closup)