Lebanese Cookies

Ingredients

COOKIES
1/3 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice or orange blossom water
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour

SYRUP
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup water

NUTS SPRINKLE
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts or other nuts


Preparation
Preheat oven to 350.

1. In mixing bowl, beat cooking oil and butter until blended; beat in sugar.
2. Add orange juice, baking powder and baking soda, mix well.
3. Gradually add flour to make a soft dough.
4. With clean hands, shape dough into 2-inch ovals. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
5. Cool about 2 minutes and remove to a wire rack.
6. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the 3/4 cup sugar, honey and 1/2 cup water, bring to a boil. Gently boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
7. Dip the COOLED cookies into the warm syrup.
8. Sprinkle immediately with the finely chopped walnuts.
9. Return to wire rack to set.