Ghoraybeh (Lebanese Shortbread Cookies) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup ghee or 1 cup clarified butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon arak (Lebanese grape extract(strong licorice flavor)
1 pinch baking powder

Preparation

Mix butter, sugar, flour and baking powder and arak together.
Work into a dough.
Take a generous tablespoon of the dough and make it into a ball.
Press down into a circle.
Place on cookie sheet, and press your finger into the center of the dough to form a ring shape.
Continue with the rest of the dough.
(Traditionally, the dough is formed into short snakes, and formed into circles, and a shelled pistachio is placed at the join).
Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes (do not brown the cookies--they're supposed to be white).
Stores at room temperature for up to a week.