Giugiuleni

This is a classic Italian cookie, always seen around Christmastime.

Ingredients

• ½ cup sesame seeds

• ¼ cup water

• 2 ½ cups all purpose flour

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup shortening

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• ¼ cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Prepare two baking sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper. Add sesame seeds to a small bowl and soak in the ¼ cup water.  Set aside.

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together.  Cut in the shortening with a pastry cutter or two forks until coarsely mixed. Stir in the eggs, milk and vanilla and mix until the dough is smooth. Gather up with fingers and form a ball.  Cut into 4 equal pieces.

On a lightly floured counter, roll each piece into long ropes around ½ inch thick. Cut two inch pieces.  Meanwhile, spread moistened sesame seeds onto a flat surface and then roll each 2-inch cookie in the seeds until thoroughly covered. Place on baking sheet and bake until browned, around 10-12 minutes.  Don’t overbake or the seeds will burn.  Cook for a minute on the sheets and then transfer to a cooling rack.