Azerbaijani Shekerbura Recipe

Shekerbura is a traditional nut and sugar filled pastry enjoyed all over Azerbaijan. The pastry is shaped into a crescent and often decorated with intricate patterns. It is a sweet treat that is made and eaten during Nowruz – the Persian New Year. 

Origin and Cultural Significance

Shekerbura is traditionally made with almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts with a lot of sugar. They are made to celebrate Nowruz, and rather than being available in supermarkets or bakeries, they’re more typically made in groups of families or friends and neighbors at home. 

The name Shekerbura is made from two halves—Sheker, the Persian word for sugar, and Bureh meaning to carve, cut, or split. Some people claim the name comes from the city in which it was thought to have originated, Sheki, however it is more likely to be from the word for sugar.

Although traditionally eaten during the New Year period, the sweet treats are also enjoyed during other celebrations and traditional holidays. 

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Azerbaijani Shekerbura Recipe

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Shekerbura is a traditional nut and sugar filled pastry enjoyed all over Azerbaijan. The pastry is shaped into a crescent and often decorated with intricate patterns

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Ingredients

• All-purpose flour - 4 cups
• Butter (softened) - 1 cup
• Sugar - 1/2 cup
• Eggs - 2
• Milk - 1/2 cup
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Ground almonds or walnuts - 2 cups
• Powdered sugar - 1 cup
• Cardamom (ground) - 1 tsp

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix flour and baking powder. Add softened butter and mix until crumbly.
2. Beat in sugar and eggs, followed by milk, to form a dough. Knead until smooth.
3. In another bowl, combine ground nuts, powdered sugar, and cardamom for the filling.
4. Roll out the dough and cut into circles. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle, fold into a crescent, and seal the edges.
5. Decorate the surface with patterns using a fork or special tool.
6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes, until lightly golden.
7. Let cool before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 375Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 181mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 6g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.