Nan-E Berenji-Persian Rosewater Rice Cookies

½ cup corn oil or canola oil
¾ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 egg yolk
2 cups rice flour
4 tablespoons rosewater
Poppyseeds for garnish


  1. Place oil and sugar and egg yolk in a 2 quart mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes or until an emulsion is formed.
  2. Fold the rice flour into the sugar mixture in 2 portions until everything is moist.
  3. Add the rosewater and stir and then knead the dough in the bowl with your hands until a smooth ball forms.
  4. Cover bowl or shape dough into a ball and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  5. When ready to make cookies, Preheat oven to 325F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  6. Using a 1 inch food scoop or a teaspoon, scoop up about 1 tablespoon of dough. Gently shape it into a ball and place it on the cookie sheet.
  7. Flatten the ball to about ¼ inch thickness and smooth out any rough edges.
  8. Using the back of a small spoon press overlapping “petals” into the top of the cookies. Sprinkle the centers with a few poppyseeds.
  9. Bake for 18 -24 minutes, depending with you are using a convection setting, until the cookies are a light golden brown around the edges.
  10. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Yield: 4 or more dozen

Tina’s Tidbits:

  • These cookies are very fragile so don’t make them too big or too thin.
  • If you want to use less flavoring, make sure you add some liquid to equal the 4 tablespoons.
  • Substitute orange blossom water for the rosewater if you like.
  • These cookies remain fresh for days or freeze well in an airtight freezer bag
  • The best way to get the air out of the bag is to seal the bag almost all the way and then insert a straw and suck out all the air.  Remove the straw and you complete the closure.
  • Air in freezer bags causes ice crystals to form which erodes the texture and flavor of the contents.
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