Albanian Ballokume Recipe
Ballokume is a traditional Albanian cookie snack from Elbasan, typically prepared during the summer festival, Dita e Veres. The dough is traditionally kneaded in a copper bowl to enhance its texture.
Ingredients
- Butter (warm and melted) – 2 cups
- Caster Sugar – 2 ½ cups
- Eggs – 8 pieces
- Water Ashes/Milk – 2 Tbsp
- Cornmeal – 6 cups
Instructions
- In a bowl, pour 1 tablespoon of ashes from a wood fire. Then, add 3 tablespoons of water and stir well. Let it steep for 30 minutes before straining it using a cheesecloth. (Water ashes can be substituted with milk instead.)
- In a large container, mix the melted butter and sugar and using a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes or until the mixture becomes foamy.
- Add eggs one by one into the mixture and continue beating for 10 minutes.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water ashes or milk and beat again for another 5 minutes.
- Gradually add the flour and mix all the ingredients until well combined and the dough is formed.
- If the mixture is too wet, just add 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour then mix again.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap or cheese cloth at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 F before putting the pastries.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper then form 2 oz balls of dough and place it in the baking sheet.
- Slightly flatten each ball before shaping the dough.
- Bake it for 40 minutes and when out of the oven, let it rest in the tray for about 20 minutes before transferring it on a rack to cool it completely.
- It is best to store the baked goodies in an airtight metal box to preserve its freshness.
Nutrition
Calories: 2134kcalCarbohydrates: 270gProtein: 31gFat: 109gSaturated Fat: 63gTrans Fat: 4gCholesterol: 621mgSodium: 971mgFiber: 13gSugar: 126g
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