Ballokume (Albanian Corn Flour Butter Cookies)

Ballokume are a traditional Albanian cookie from Elbasan, made with cornmeal and butter and traditionally baked for Dita e Verës, the spring festival. They have a dense, buttery crumb and a lightly cracked golden top.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups fine cornmeal (corn flour)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Instructions

1. Cream the butter and sugar
   Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Add the eggs
   Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
3. Fold in the dry ingredients
   Gently fold in the cornmeal and flour until just combined into a thick batter.
4. Shape the cookies
   Drop or pipe the batter into small oval mounds, about 2 inches, onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced apart.
5. Bake
   Bake at 350F (175C) for 15 to 18 minutes, until the edges turn golden and the tops crack slightly.
6. Cool and dust
   Cool on a rack, then dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.