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Gazelle horns (also known as Cornes de Gazelle) are a classic Moroccan cookie made with an almond filling and thin pastry shell.

gazelle horn cookies on a sugar dusted pan

These pastries get their name from their shape, which looks like the horns of the antelope, but they are also known as cornes (or cornets) de gazelle in France.

In Morocco, they are made with thin pastry sheets and stuffed with an almond filling before the cookies are baked, glazed and sometimes sprinkled with sesame seeds or almonds.

The result is a super delicate crisp pasty shell, and a soft, chewy almond center. Truly delicious and a wonderful combination of textures!

They are traditionally served with afternoon tea in Morocco, paired with a variety of other nut-based pastries, cookies, and mint tea.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Gazelle Horns:

For the Filling:

  • almonds (can be peeled or unpeeled)
  • white granulated sugar
  • orange blossom water
  • cinnamon

For the Pastry Dough:

  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • butter
  • orange blossom water
  • cold water

For the Wash:

  • orange blossom water

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

almond paste in a food processor
Make the filling. In a food processor combine almonds and process on high until they resemble course crumbs (about 1 minute). Pour in the sugar and continue to pulse. Add orange blossom water and cinnamon and continue pulsing until the mixture becomes thick and sticks together, like a paste. 
almond paste on a parchment lined baking sheet
Shape the filling into small logs about 2.5 inches in length (see photos for reference) and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet. 
a ball of pastry dough
Make the dough. Start by whisking the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and orange water before mixing with your hands until the flour starts to resemble pea shaped balls. Keep mixing and incorporating the flour, orange water, and butter together, kneading and adding cold water as needed to keep things from sticking too much.
pastry dough with almond paste
Assemble the cookies. Once the dough has formed, divide into fourths or sixths and roll out on a flour dusted surface until thin but still durable. Place the almond paste logs in the middle of the dough in sections, leaving space to fold the dough over the paste.
gazelle horn cookies being cut
Using your hands, pat down the dough around the almond paste to get rid of any air bubbles. Cut around the paste in a semi circle using a pastry roller and fold the dough covered paste into a crescent shape. Transfer cookies back to the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat this step until all the dough and/or paste is finished.
orange blossom water brushing over cookies
Brush the cookies with orange blossom water before baking at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until they begin to get golden brown on the outside. Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Fun Toppings

As mentioned before, some pastry shops will sprinkle toppings like powdered sugar on these classic cookies.

Here are some of my favorite ways to finish Gazelle Horns:

  • Sesame Seeds – a light sprinkle of sesame seeds adds a fun textural element to the already delicious cookies.
  • Shaved Almonds – a few shaved almond pieces can also add a fun crunch and clue guests into what’s on the inside!
  • Chocolate Dipped – this one is not at all traditional… but SO GOOD. We already knew chocolate and almonds go together, so this is no surprise.

Special Equipment & Ingredients

A good food processor or meat grinder is essential in grinding up the almonds for the filling of gazelle horns.

You will also need orange blossom water for both the filling and garnish.

Orange water is a commonly used ingredient in Moroccan pastries and desserts alike, so invest in a good quality bottle and stick around for more ideas on how to use it!

gazelle horn cookies fresh out of the oven

Storage

As a kid, my dad used to visit our family in Morocco every year on his summer break from teaching. He would always return with boxes of cookies, pastries, handmade ceramics, and of course, gazelle horns.

The cookies somehow always tasted fresh, even though they had just flown across the Atlantic ocean in an overhead bin.

Gazelle horns store best in an air tight container.

They can keep long enough to travel over 5,000 miles, or up to 2 weeks.

Bismillah,

Salima written in cursive
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gazelle horn cookies on a sugar dusted pan

Gazelle Horns (Moroccan Almond Cookies)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Salima Benkhalti
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert, Snack
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Moroccan, North African
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

Gazelle horns (also known as Cornes de Gazelle) are a classic Moroccan cookie made with an almond filling and thin pastry shell. 

Ingredients

Scale

For the Filling:

  • 2 cups almonds (peeled or unpeeled)
  • ½ cup white granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp orange blossom water
  • ½ tsp cinnamon

For the Pastry Dough:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 tbsp orange blossom water
  • ½ cup cold water

For the Wash:

  • 2 tbsp orange blossom water

Instructions

  1. Make the filling. In a food processor combine almonds and process on high until they resemble course crumbs (about 1 minute). Pour in the sugar and continue to pulse. Add orange blossom water and cinnamon and continue pulsing until the mixture becomes thick and sticks together, like a paste.
  2. Shape the filling into small logs about 2.5 inches in length (see photos for reference) and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  3. Make the dough. Start by whisking the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and orange water before mixing with your hands until the flour starts to resemble pea shaped balls. Keep mixing and incorporating the flour, orange water, and butter together, kneading and adding cold water as needed to keep things from sticking too much.
  4. Assemble the cookies. Once the dough has formed, divide into fourths or sixths and roll out on a flour dusted surface until thin but still durable. Place the almond paste logs in the middle of the dough in sections, leaving space to fold the dough over the paste.
  5. Using your hands, pat down the dough around the almond paste to get rid of any air bubbles. Cut around the paste in a semi circle using a pastry roller and fold the dough covered paste into a crescent shape. Transfer cookies back to the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat this step until all the dough and/or paste is finished.
  6. Brush the cookies with orange blossom water before baking at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until they begin to get golden brown on the outside. Enjoy!

Notes

To peel almonds, add to boiling water for 1 minute before straining and soaking in cold water. Peels should come off easily.

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