Description
A recipe for traditional Middle Eastern cookies filled with a date and nut mixture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup semolina
- 1/2 cup fine semolina
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup rose water
- 1/4 cup orange blossom water
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mahlab
- 1/4 teaspoon ground anise
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup date paste
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon sugar (for filling)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Combine semolina, fine semolina, melted butter, oil, powdered sugar, rose water, orange blossom water, mahlab, anise, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Mix until a dough forms. Cover and let rest for at least 12 hours, or overnight.
- For the filling, mix date paste, chopped walnuts, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
- Divide the dough into small balls. Flatten a ball in your palm.
- Place a spoonful of the date-nut filling in the center.
- Enclose the filling completely with the dough, forming a ball or oval shape.
- Press the shaped cookie into a maamoul mold or shape it by hand to create a pattern.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute orange blossom water with milk if preferred.
- Do not overbake the cookies; they should remain pale.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 10
Keywords: Maamoul, date cookies, nut cookies, semolina cookies, Middle Eastern sweets, Eid cookies