Festive Edition: Traditional Sweets – Sugee Cookies (Vegetarian, Gift Ideas)

So, it’s almost Deepavali (Diwali/festival of lights). In Malaysia, we celebrate Deepavali by having open houses where we invite our relatives, friends and neighbours to enjoy the food and snacks we have made. As such, in the lead up to Deepavali, my mom would make an array of sweet and savoury snacks for our guests to enjoy.

These sweet and savoury snacks are not the healthiest snacks on the planet. But they are good for your soul and we typically only make them during the festive season. So, they have a special place in my heart (and taste buds 🤩). One of my favourite snacks that my mom used to make was sugee (semolina) cookies. I love them as they melt in my mouth and buttery soft with a touch of sweetness.

So, if you are looking for a little sweet snack for afternoon tea, these cookies are great (just try not eat them all in one go 😂). These cookies also make a good snack for any festive season like Christmas and Easter as well as make a great gift idea 🤤

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have. As always, please let me know what you think of this recipe. If you like what you see on this blog, you can follow me on my blog, Facebook or Instagram for some food porn. Also, if you do recreate this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @subz_foodie 🙂

Makes 30 cookies

Ingredients

100g butter, softened (at room temperature) (traditionally, we use ghee (clarified butter) but I couldn’t get any in my neighbourhood – using ghee will give the cookies a richer taste);
70g caster sugar (more if you prefer your cookies sweeter));
100g semolina/sugee;
100g self raising flour;
pinch of salt;
1 tsp baking powder; and
*Optional: glaced cherries cut into tiny pieces (cut each cherry into 6-8 pieces).

Method

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius and grease a baking tray;
In a bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until well combined and creamy;
Add semolina, flour, salt and baking powder to the sugar-butter mixture and mix until well combined. The dough will form together like a cookie dough. You may need to use your hands to bind the dough together;
Using a teaspoon as a guide, form the dough into balls and flatten and place a cut up cherry on the flattened cookie dough. The cookies will expand, so make sure the cookies are well spaced out in the baking tray;
Once you have completed with all the dough, place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden brown;
Then, allow the cookies to cool and place in an airtight container. Store in a dark cool area for up to a month; and
Enjoy with your family and friends.