A twist to traditional cookies
KOTA KINABALU: Kuih makmur, a traditional Malaysian cookie made from groundnuts and covered in powdered sugar, is synonymous with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
The treats are a common sight at Hari Raya open houses, which would be served on trays during the festive season.
Local entrepreneur Zaleeqa Nadiah Mohd Taufiq Leong has added a twist to the local delight by baking them in colours, including green, red and purple.
The self-taught baker said she started making multicoloured kuih makmur after receiving a special request from her younger sister.
“I did not expect they would be an instant hit among my clients. Orders started pouring in after I posted pictures of my kuih makmur on Instagram and WhatsApp,” Zaleeqa told the New Straits Times.
The 26-year-old business administration major said she started selling Hari Raya cookies last year after receiving “many requests” from friends.
Her best-selling snack then was cheese-flavoured batang buruk, which is a creative spin on the classic delicacy.
“This year, I am also making rainbow-coloured kuih makmur, which is popular among younger consumers and teenagers.
“Besides kuih makmur and batang buruk, my rainbowcoloured Nutella cookies are also a best-seller,” she said.
The second of four siblings, Zaleeqa said she owed her success to special recipes handed down to her by her grandmother.
“Despite making creative changes to the cookies, I always stick to the recipe. I’m not sure what I’ll make next year but I’m always open to trying out new things.”
Zaleeqa, who runs her business under the username “@cookiemonstershop_” on Instagram, also sells Nestum cookies, pineapple tarts, strawberry tarts and chocolate chip cookies.