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    Cooking Gorgeous » Pastries & Sweets

    Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies)

    Published: Jan 1, 2022 · Modified: Oct 7, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies) is a sweet, moist, and tender dessert that's traditionally served for religious celebrations, such as Seker Bayrami which marks the end of Ramadan.

    Seker pare is a great alternative to Turkish Baklava or Baklava Cheesecake for your sweet cravings when you want something much simpler & quicker.

    Sekerpare Turkish semolina cookies soaked in syrup

    What is Şekerpare?

    Şekerpare is a type of cookie made with semolina, butter, eggs, flour, and sugar.

    It is then shaped into small balls, baked in the oven until golden, and soaked in simple syrup.

    You can find these Semolina Cookies in Turkish bakeries or on restaurant menus everywhere in Turkey.

    Alternatively, you can make your homemade version of Seker Pare with my simple recipe.

    the syrup inspired on the cookies

    Origins of Şekerpare

    Sekerpare is a popular dessert that originated in the Ottoman Empire, which was a large empire that included many different regions and cultures.

    The exact origins of Seker Pare are not clear, but it is believed to have been created during this time.

    It is made from semolina dough that is formed into small balls or disks and then baked.

    The baked dough is soaked in a sweet syrup made from sugar, water, and lemon juice. This gives the dessert its signature sweetness and moist texture.

    Sekerpare is a traditional dessert in Turkey and is enjoyed by people all over the world.

    3 pieces of sekerpare

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • Şekerpare is very easy to make with step-by-step pictures and instructions.
    • My simple recipe gives you 24 pieces of this delicious dessert, it is a real crowd-pleaser.
    • They are freezer-friendly, you can keep them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
    • You can prepare Sekerpare in advance, they taste even better on the second or third day.

    Ingredients and Substitutes

    Labelled picture of ingredients for sekerpare
    • Butter - Use good quality unsalted butter and make sure it is softened at room temperature before using it.
    • Plain white flour - It is also known as all-purpose flour. It is perfect for making cakes, cookies, pastries, and thickening sauces. Sift it before using it in your pastries.
    • Icing Sugar - It has a tiny bit of cornstarch and a powdery consistency which gives a more crumbly texture to the cookies.
    • Semolina - It makes the cookie dough light and crumbly.
    • Eggs - They add color, structure, and flavor to the cookies. Keep one egg yolk for egg washing the cookies before baking them.
    • Baking powder - It helps the cookie dough rise or puff, giving you more airy and crumbly cookies.
    • Lemon juice - A few drops of lemon juice are necessary to prevent the syrup from crystallizing. You can add more lemon juice if you want to add your Sekerpare some lemon flavor.
    • Hazelnuts - Although they are the most common nuts to use for Sekerpare, you can also use pistachio nuts or almonds.
    • Vanilla paste - I use organic vanilla bean paste or extract for deep&delicious vanilla flavor. Avoid using artificial vanilla for this recipe.

    How to Make Şekerpare?

    Making these sweet and tender Sekerpare is very easy and straightforward.

    However, to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps:

    Prepare the Syrup

    Place the water and sugar in a pan and put on medium heat. 

    Stir it until the sugar dissolves, bring it to a boil, and let it gently boil for 15 to 20 minutes. 

    sugar and water are placed in a pan

    Add a few drops of lemon juice, let it simmer for a few more minutes, and then remove the pan from heat. 

    Let it cool down while making the semolina cookies. 

    the syrup is cooked until the sugar is dissolved

    Make the Cookies

    Preheat your oven to 180° C - 360° F (fan oven) and start making the dough for the cookies.

    Sift the flour in a large bowl and then add the egg, egg white, softened butter, icing sugar, semolina, vanilla paste, and baking powder. 

    sugar, butter, egg, semolina and flour are placed in a bowl to make semolina cookies

    Mix well using your hands until you have a nice and smooth dough.

    the dough for sekerpare

    Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces and turn them into balls.

    Lightly flatten the dough balls and place them on a baking tray leaving enough space between each as they will rise when cooked.

    the dough has been divided into 24 cookies

    Lightly press in the middle of the cookies with your fingertip and place a piece of hazelnut on each cookie.

    a piece of hazelnut is placed on each cookies

    Eggwash the cookies with a pastry brush and place the baking tray in preheated oven.

    Bake them for 20- 25 minutes or until they are golden brown.

    cookies are baked until golden brown

    Let the cookies cool down for 5 minutes and then pour the syrup on with a ladle.

    Cover the tray with a lid or cling film and let the cookies absorb the syrup and turn soft & moist, almost like a cake consistency.

    the syrup inspired on the cookies

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • Make sure the butter is at room temperature - not melted. Take it out of the fridge and leave it out on the kitchen top for a couple of hours until you need it.
    • When placing the semolina cookies on the baking tray, make sure to leave enough space between them as they will expand while baking.
    • The same as when you are making Kadaif Dessert - Turkish Tel Kadayif, let the syrup cool down to room temperature before pouring it down on the freshly baked cookies.

    How to Serve Şekerpare?

    You can serve Sekerpare in a variety of ways depending on personal preference.

    Traditionally, these delicious syrup-soaked cookies are served at room temperature or slightly warm, often with a cup of Turkish tea or coffee.

    You can garnish Sekerpare with some chopped nuts, such as pistachios or almonds, which add a nice crunch and contrast to the soft texture of the dessert.

    Some people also like to serve Sekerpare with a dollop of Kaymak (Turkish clotted cream) or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for added richness and creaminess.

    Keep in mind that Sekerpare is quite sweet and rich, so it is best enjoyed in moderation.

    Recipe FAQs

    What does Sekerpare mean?

    Sekerpare means "a piece of sugar" in the old Ottoman language. It is also the name of a type of very sweet apricot growing in Turkey.

    How to store Sekerpare?

    You can keep them at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Make sure you store them in an airtight container for extra freshness.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious syrupy dessert recipes why not try:

    • The BEST Baklava Cheesecake
    • Revani - Turkish Semolina Cake
    • a slice of Kunefe turkish cheese dessert
      Kunefe (Kunafa) - Turkish Cheese Dessert
    • Turkish Irmik Helva
      Irmik Helvasi (Turkish Semolina Halva)

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this scrumptious Turkish Sekerpare dessert as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

    soft and moist Sekerpare (Turkish semolina cookies

    Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies)

    Ayla Clulee
    This delicious Sekerpare recipe is made with semolina cookies baked until golden and then soaked in syrup.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish
    Servings 24 pieces
    Calories 192 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 baking tray
    • 1 sieve
    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 Pastry brush

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the Syrup

    • 400 g caster or granulated sugar
    • 500 ml water
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

    For the Cookies

    • 150 g unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
    • 70 g icing sugar
    • 20 g semolina
    • 350 g plain white flour / all-purpose flour
    • 1 medium egg
    • 1 egg white
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
    • 5 g baking powder
    • 24 hazelnuts, almonds, or pistachio nuts
    • 1 egg yolk (for the egg wash)

    Instructions
     

    Making the Syrup

    • Place the water and sugar in a pan and put on medium heat. 
    • Stir it until the sugar dissolves, bring it to a boil, and let it gently boil for 15 to 20 minutes. 
    • Add a few drops of lemon juice, let it simmer for a few more minutes, and then remove the pan from heat. 
    • Let it cool down while making the semolina cookies. 

    Making the Cookies

    • Preheat your oven to 180° C - 360° F (fan oven).
    • Sift the flour in a large bowl and then add the egg, egg white, softened butter, icing sugar, semolina, vanilla paste, and baking powder.
    • Mix well using your hands until you have a nice and smooth dough.
    • Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces and turn them into balls.
    • Lightly flatten the dough balls and place them on a baking tray leaving enough space between each as they will rise when cooked.
    • Lightly press in the middle of the cookies with your fingertip and place a piece of hazelnut on each cookie.
    • Eggwash the cookies with a pastry brush and place the baking tray in preheated oven.
    • Bake them for 20- 25 minutes or until they are golden brown.
    • Let the cookies cool down for 5 minutes and then pour the syrup on with a ladle.
    • Cover the tray with a lid or cling film and let the cookies absorb the syrup and turn soft & moist, almost like a cake consistency.

    Notes

    • Make sure the butter is at room temperature - not melted. Take it out of the fridge and leave it out on the kitchen top for a couple of hours until you need it.
    • When placing the semolina cookies on the baking tray, make sure to leave enough space between them as they will expand while baking.
    • Let the syrup cool down to room temperature before pouring it down on the freshly baked cookies.
    • You can keep Sekerpare at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Make sure you store them in an airtight container for extra freshness.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 29mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 177IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christy

      January 04, 2022 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so yummy! Very simple and quick to serve for last minute guests.

      Reply
    2. Tabitha

      April 09, 2022 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe! So soft and fluffy, delicious, yum!
      Followed recipe exactly and came out perfect!

      Reply
    3. Veronica

      April 09, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      5 stars
      These are so good. Moist and delicious! They came out amazing.

      Reply
    4. Fiona

      April 13, 2022 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      Made this recipe twice now, really easy to follow and it’s extremely delicious!

      Reply
    5. Margaret

      May 16, 2022 at 4:39 am

      5 stars
      I have made these two times in the last three days. Way too addicting is the only negative I can say. Thanks for sharing your recipe

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        May 16, 2022 at 7:08 am

        Hi, Margaret! It is my pleasure. Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
        Best wishes
        Ayla x

        Reply
    6. Cate

      June 08, 2022 at 6:23 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the recipe! I followed it closely and it worked well for me. Everyone who had them loved them

      Reply
    7. Mina

      June 18, 2022 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      These cookies are a perfect tea-time treat. So delicious and melt in the mouth!

      Reply

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious recipes and culinary inspiration await you! I'm Ayla, a passionate and professional chef based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here. The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

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