Ghoribiya (Egyptian Butter Cookies)

So many cultures have their version of ghoribiya, shortbread-like butter cookies sometimes made with crushed almonds, which literally melt in your mouth. Through the years, I’ve noticed similar confections: when I visited the Greek Orthodox archbishop in Jerusalem and tasted their
kourambiedes; at Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek’s home, where the signature baked good prepared by his wife, Tamar, was Viennese kupferlin (almond crescent cookies); the Moroccan ghouribi, also with almonds; and polvorones (from Mexico and Spain), which are quickly becoming part of American culture. Fortunately, I was able to track down Madame Baghdadi’s son, who shared this beloved recipe with me.