A classic Bosnian dessert, gurabija is a type of round, flat shortbread cookie that is usually made with flour, sugar, and oil. This sweet specialty is believed to have oriental origins, and it’s been an essential part of the culture, tradition, and culinary heritage of the entire Balkan.

Although the variations on this dessert abound, the cookies commonly contain eggs, baking powder or baking soda, butter or margarine, and dairy products such as mileram cream, yogurt, or milk. The combination is typically flavored with vanilla powder or vanilla sugar, lemon zest, nuts, and dried fruits.

Apart from the ingredients used for making the dessert, the cookies may also vary in size, shape, and decoration. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the cookies are often decorated with a fork or a knife, while a truly distinguishing trait of Bosnian gurabija cookies is the sugar cube that’s pressed in the center of the cookies before they’re baked.  Read more