Ghoraybeh (lebanese Shortbread Cookies)

These are my all-time favorite cookies (and that's saying something) Light flavored, but buttery-rich, these cookies literally melt in your mouth. And, they're easy to make.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 20

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

Directions

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