Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup whole almonds, toasted, cooled, and coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons orange-flower water
• 2 teaspoons anise seeds
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted and cooled, divided
• 3 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash

Instructions

1. Stir together sugar, butter, almonds, orange-flower water, anise seeds, extracts, and 1/4 cup sesame seeds in a large bowl. Add eggs and stir until well combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Chill dough, covered, 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
3. Using moistened hands, halve dough and form 2 (11- by 3-inch) loaves on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with enough egg wash to coat, then sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sesame seeds.
4. Bake until pale golden, about 30 minutes. Loosen from baking sheet with a spatula, then transfer loaves to a rack and cool 15 minutes. (Leave oven on.)
5. Cut warm loaves into 3/4-inch slices with a serrated knife and arrange biscuits, with a cut side down, on a clean baking sheet. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.