A typical Albanian cookie, ballokume has its origins in the town of Elbasan (central Albania), as does tavë kosi above.Made with cornflour, butter, sugar, and eggs, ballokume is a simple cookie traditionally prepared for “Dita e Verës”, an Albanian national holiday celebrated annually on the 14th of March.
They take time, as it is all done by hand. First, the butter and sugar are mixed until pale and doubled in volume, and then the eggs are added. Lastly, the cornflour goes in and the mixture is spooned onto a baking tray. The cookies are baked and left to cool before serving. The taste of ballokume compares with no other dessert in the Balkans or southeast Europe, making them one of the most authentic dishes of Albanian cuisine.