Ottijiet tal-gunglien (Sesame Dunkers)

Ingredients

8oz plain flour

8oz self-raising flour

½ tsp baking powder

9oz butter or margarine

4-5oz confectionary sugar 

Zest of an orange and lemon

1 tsp toasted aniseed

1 egg, beaten

Juice of an orange
Milk and Sesame seeds to decorate with

Method

Put the flour, baking powder, butter and icing sugar in a bowl and mix using the rub-in method until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Throw in the orange and lemon zest, toasted aniseed, eggs and orange juice and form a dough.

On a floured surface, cut dough into walnut-sized pieces. Roll out in the shape of a pencil and form the "8" shape. Press ends together well.

Dip the figure of 8 in milk and then put it in a plate with sesame seeds to coat the top of the cookie.

Place on a greased and wax paper lined baking sheet and bake in a 390 degree Fahrenheit oven until golden brown.

The cookies might still be a bit soft after cooking. Its important to let them cool well as this process will make them crunchier. Do not store them while they are still hot, they need to be completely cold before storing in an airtight container.

These cookies are extremely popular in Malta. Nearly every household is always stocked with a bag or two of these cookies. It is customary to offer something sweet with coffee or tea when you have visitors and these make a great treat and are the best tea/coffee dunkers out there!