Nan-e Berenji, or Nan Berenji or Naan Berenji, are floral sweetly spiced shortbread cookies perfect for celebrating Spring.
Rose flavored cookies? YES!
If you have never tried floral flavored food they taste just like the smell.
You might be able to find rose water at a good liquor store. But, I bought this Nielsen-Massey version online. It might seem a bit pricey but a little goes a long way. You can add a little in homemade jams or jellies, add a splash to drinks like this Blackberry Prosecco Punch or try it in Raspberry Rose Sugar Cookies, Rose Milk Gelatin.
In Nan-e Berenji the rose flavor is paired with cardamom. A-MAZ-ING! You can omit the cardamom if you like, but it is one of my favorite spices. It's like a combination of cinnamon and nutmeg with a hint of mint and citrus.
How to Shape Nan-e Berenji
These cookies are traditionally rolled into a ball and then pressed with a decorative stamp to help hold the poppy seeds on top. You can purchase moon cake molds like this to achieve the effect.
I did not have those, so I searched my kitchen for anything I could use for a pretty design and came up with the bottom of the cardamom jar. It worked okay, but the edges cracked and it wasn't as pretty as I'd like.
Then I tried a spoon trick I read in another post to make a flower shape. Turn a spoon sideways and press lightly from the center outward making spokes. No cracking and a lovely little spring flower.
More Spring Sweets Recipes from #OurFamilyTable
We are gearing up for Spring with these lovely desserts.
Springtime Sweets
- Almond Joy Macaron from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting from The Spiffy Cookie
- Easy Cream Cheese Frosting from Art of Natural Living
- Easy Springtime Fudge from A Good Life
- Meyer Lemon Cashew Fudge/Lemon Kaju Kathli from Magical Ingredients
- Nan-e Berenji (Persian Rice Cookies) from That Recipe
- Strawberry Cheesecake Macarons from Jen Around the World
- Tropical Cupcakes with Passion Fruit Frosting from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 eggs (seperated)
- 3¼ cups rice flour
- 1 tablespoon rose water
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl combine butter, powdered sugar and egg yolks.
- Add flour, rose water, water, and cardamom.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg whites to firm peaks (when you remove the beater the "mountain" stands up straight but the tip of it folds over. A little more than soft peak, but not stiff peak).
- Fold the egg whites into the other ingredients and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat oven to 300° F.
- Roll into tablespoon size balls and flatten with a cookie press or the tines of a fork or turn a small spoon on its side and press into the cookie from the center to the outer edge of the cookie (like spokes of a wheel).
- Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges just start to tinge brown. Remove from the pan and place on cooling rack until cool.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Tammy
I love that these are gluten free. I'll have to try them sometime!
Audrey
I know a lot of people are looking for Gluten Free recipes these days.
Ashley @ Forgetful Momma
Yum! I was thinking about baking today, I guess I know what to try making now. 😉
Audrey
They are a little different, but addicting.
Joanne/Wine Lady Cooks
This is a great recipe. I love that you are making recipes from different cultures - always enjoy new recipes and sharing with the kids.
Audrey
I always enjoyed trying new cuisines as a kid, I hope my son does too.
CYnthia
These look really good. I am loving he ingredients in them. Since I am cutting processed foods out of my diet, I am thinking these might be something I could make. Do you think there is a substitute for the powdered sugar? I have never cookies with Rose water. Glad you warned of the amount. Thanks for being a part of the Fill The Cookie Jar group.
Audrey
I'd be worried about the texture and consistency if you substituted the powdered sugar. I'm not sure what else could be used.
Tina
What a great recipe. I love seeing recipes from different regions. Thanks for sharing.
Audrey
So do I, Tina. I think it is fun to explore regional foods.
Cindy @CindysRecipesAndWritings
I never made cookies with rice flour. I got to try this recipe!
Audrey
The rice flour gives them an interesting texture.
Kris ~ Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies
I just got Rose Water, and have been looking for a recipe to try it in. This would be perfect!
Audrey
Wanting to use the rose water I had in the pantry was one of the reasons I chose this cookie.
Heather @ Join Us, Pull up a Chair
Such a unique cookie! I definitely need to expand my horizons and try my hand at making some international foods!
Haley Bradley
A very unique cookie! I have heard of rose water for a facial, but I didn't know you could bake with it.
Audrey
It tastes like... roses. I know it sounds odd, but in the right recipe it is wonderful. These were good once I toned it down a little.
Maria Magdalena
I need recipes that are gluten free. This is perfect!
Audrey
I'm happy to help 😉
Leigh
Thank you for linking up at the Healthy Living Link Party!
Blessings, Leigh
Marlys (This and That)
These sound interesting.. I think I would like the cardamom instead of the rose water (harder for me to get).
Audrey
I think I had the cardamom from a Crazy Ingredient Challenge we did a while back. The Rose Water was hard to find in my area so I just ended up ordering it online.