Lebanese · dessert
Kaak (Lebanese Ring Cookies)
Kaak (Lebanese Ring Cookies) reads sweetness 6.3, richness 5.7 and citrus 5.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Lebanese dessert, about 1 hr 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 1.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 7.1 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 6.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.1 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.2 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sweetness 6.3 · Richness 5.7 · Citrus 5.5 · Nutty 3.3 · Warm Spice 3.0 · Fruity 2.8 · Floral 2.4 · Sourness 1.7 · Umami 1.6 · Earthy 1.0 · Herbaceous 0.9 · Bitterness 0.6
What's in it (9)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp anise seeds
- 1/2 cup sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water
Time & effort: about 1 hr 40 min (40 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 411 kcal, 11 g protein, 18.8 g fat, 52 g carbs
Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Mix flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, anise, and orange blossom water into a smooth dough.
- Shape into rings or braids and brush with egg wash.
- Coat generously in sesame seeds and bake at 180C until lightly golden and firm.
- Cool completely before eating as they crisp up further.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- M'hancha (Snake Pastry) — Moroccan
- Leche Frita — Spanish
- Briouat (Stuffed Fried Pastries) — Moroccan
- Pasta Frola — Argentine
- Seffa (Sweet Couscous with Butter and Cinnamon) — Moroccan
Keep reading: what sweetness, richness, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.