Şekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies in Lemon Syrup)

Step 1 of 6Make the syrup ahead

Make the syrup first, because it has to be stone cold. Bring the white sugar, water and lemon juice to a boil in a small pan, then simmer for 10 minutes until it thickens just enough to coat a spoon. Take it off the heat and leave it to cool completely — hot cookies meeting cold syrup is the whole trick of şekerpare.