Personally I chose them because I love the flavors used in Middle Eastern dishes. If you are going to stuff it, then we will make a rectangle instead of a log. ... Nut Filled Middle Eastern Cookies… As good as my other holiday cookies -Baklava, Persian Chickpea Cookies and Vanillekipferl (Crescent Cookies). And trust me the homemade Middle Eastern morsels are certainly a treat! This is a unique family recipe that is originally from my great, great aunt. Sprinkling a, Place the Maamoul cookies, smooth side up (for hand shaped cookies) or the patterned side up (for cookies made using mold), on a large. Cut a piece of dough, one at a time, the size of a walnut. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends. Thank you for this wonderful recipe Amira. Do not let the cookies over bake or turn too brown. Place a date ball in the center. Middle Eastern Date Cookie - Maamoul ... Brush the palms with ghee before making the cookies. 9 Roll tops of cookies into crushed pistachios or sesame seeds. Mix dry ingredients with hot butter then when it has cooled enough mix with hands. Place cookie into the mold cavity seam-side up. Divide the date mass into 32 portions and roll them into smooth balls. Use a nut pick or fork to create interesting patterns. Date-Filled Cookies. Yes you are right the recipe calls for a total of one cup usually people use 1/2 cup butter and half oil. Traditionally butter or ghee is used for these cookies. Directions: 7 Place date paste in the cookie and roll it over so the cookie covers the date. Use oil or safe food prep gloves if needed, as the date mass can be sticky. 2 T unsweetened coconut flakes. Keep in an air-tight container and they will last for up to two weeks. As it may be difficult to release the cookie dough out of the mold. Note1: The recipe calls for 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 oil. Sometimes I find that this method may not work out too well for all. May be that's why the sugar is not that much. Usually the not filled ones are eaten with savory things like cheese. In a large bowl, place the flour, semolina, 6 tablespoons of the sugar, the mahleb powder and the powdered or ground anise and stir. Spread lengthwise, 4" by 1". So my late dad figured out that he would buy him "those circles" so he can nibble on them in the school bus. There is nothing better than a deliciously crumbly shortbread cookie. Kleicha – Date Cookies (كليجة) Last year I made a healthier version of my favourite cookies – Kleicha (كليجة) which are Iraqi date cookies that are traditionally served on Eid (A religious holiday to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan where muslims fast from sun rise to sun set for a whole month). Fill with date ball and roll, sealing the sides together to form a ring. But the rolled one is the traditional shape of ara'eesh. Add the melted butter and mix to combine. Press down so that the top is flush with edges of the mold. Then, as I was looking at different types of cookies, I saw a number needed special moulds which I didn’t … If you’re making it for a crowd, you can always double the recipe. This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. I’ve filled mine with date paste, which you can buy at most Middle Eastern stores (or, says Fouad, make at home by blitzing 2c dates with 1/2c butter in the food processor). The recipe is very easy to follow, and the cookies are a … I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! Subtly scented with orange blossom, so decadent it scrumptiously melts in your mouth. Repeat with remaining dough and date paste, arranging cookies 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. So, you might wanna start experimenting too as a way for having fun with the kids in the kitchen, or make it my way and call it a day. Nearly swooned the first time I went into a Syrian baklawa shop with nothing but pastries. Or press the date filled cookie dough into a traditional maamoul mold and gently press to get the pattern on the cookie. Maamoul is a buttery pistachio, date or walnut filled semolina cookie. much love ♥. The date ball must be covered with the dough ball . I hope this answers your question. Use a nut pick or fork to create interesting patterns. The only deterrent was the Ma’amoul mold used to shape the cookies. Sprinkling a little bit of flour into the mold prior to using it may help release the cookie better. The dates should cooked down to a smooth and solid mass. Some say ma'amoul, a popular Middle Eastern cookie stuffed with date puree, is a reminder that at the end of the fasting period, there's a sweet … Store in an airtight container for 2 weeks. Nov 18, 2014 - Middle Eastern Date-Filled Cookies (Ma’amoul) | Tasty Kitchen Blog Very time consuming to make, but "worth the effort" Invert and tap the front edge of the mold onto a hard surface like a kitchen counter, and hold your palm under the mold to get the cookie that is released from the mold. I hope you'll like the recipes here. Bake for 18-20 minutes until bottom gets nicely browned, then broil for one or two minutes till it has browned nicely. Naturally sweetened with dates these have minimal added sugar. So what I did was use half the fat butter and the other half oil, for the liquids I used milk. Pinch the dough to seal well and then smoothen it out. If you are going to make a plain araeesh then roll the section into an 11 inch long log then cut into 8 equal parts. Bring the edges of the dough together. Cut each roll to desired number of fingers, place in a greased pan and bake for 15-20 mins … I'm sorry I don't know the serving size or exactly how long it takes to bake! We make them super bite size because they are totally cute that way and give us an abundance of cookies. Next, another portion of the dough is layered over the date filling and smoothened out. Your email address will not be published. These unusual looking Date Filled Cookies or Ma’amoul grabbed my attention. Date Filling: 1 small Pkg mushy dates ( you can buy it at Middle eastern stores) 3 Tbs sugar (optional) I did not use it this time 3 Tsp butter ¼ Tsp of cloves (optional but I used it it gives great flavor to it) ½ Tsp cinnamon (optional but I used it it gives great flavor to it ½ cup Chopped almonds. Well baked cookies will appear dry on the surface unlike the moist look of raw dough. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you are going to stuff it with agra then roll each into an 11 inch long , with almost 4mm thickness, rectangle. For the butter/oil  and water/milk dilemma here is my two cents: Using butter makes it super tasty but soft, using oil makes it crunchy but not as tasty. I find the Levant cuisine to be the most flavorful. 10 Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I've never been to Egypt but I love Middle Eastern sweets. Invert the mold and tap it against your work surface to release the cookie. 1 tsp orange blossom water. Application of some oil to the palms or using safe. These cookies are a play on mammoul but a bit simpler and don’t require the molds to shape. Let the dough rest in a warm place for two hours. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. Do make sure to look for, The date paste can be a bit sticky to work with. Poor cookies got beat out by cronuts and waffle sandwiches. 2 tablespoons water. Or press the date filled cookie dough into a traditional. Maamoul: Middle Eastern Holiday Cookies – Baker Without Borders on April 14, 2017 at 8:55 PM Reply […] kind used to make pasta), flavored with rose water or orange blossom water, and shaped using ornate molds. My oldest used to take those to school in Egypt when he was just 4 years old and he used to call them circles :). Read More…. Date … I've used 3/4 cup butter and 1/4 oil. 1 tsp orange zest. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Nov 29, 2015 - These beautiful cookies are perfect for any special occasion. Dry dates may require more water. Maamoul are buttery date filled middle eastern cookies that will melt in your mouth and are utterly scrumptious. The design on the cookie lets you … Ara’eesh Agwa; a famous date filled Middle Eastern cookies. Make Martha Stewart's Iranian Rice Cookies (Nan-e Berenji) from the Middle Eastern Cookies episode of Martha Bakes. Divide the date mass into 32 portions and roll them into smooth balls. Take a dough ball and flatten it. In the mixer bowl combine flour, salt, yeast, sesame seeds , your optional add ons and sugar and mix well. Pinch sea salt. Well, that's it for today's recipe. 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger. I made it with 1/2 cup of oil/melted butter, but the dough seemed too dry. Melt the butter or ghee. Cool the well-baked Maamoul completely on a wire rack. There are lots of dates, nuts and fragrant spices, all of which I enjoy. Each is formed in a specific designed wooden mold. I've experimented with different combinations and sent out test samples as well. I find this easier because all my cookies more or less turn out the same size. Next, another portion of the dough is layered over the date filling and flattened out. Ghee is quite easy to make from butter - check it out in the recipe notes for these. But my preferred method is to make the cookie by hand and then pressing it gently into the mold to create the pattern. Then knead it all into a pliable dough. Even … Syrians are masters in food.. 8 Using a sharp knife and a saw like motion, cut your cookies into desired size. You can find agwa easily in your local Middle East market. Bake for. Tasty date filled cookies, this Egyptian Ara'eesh recipe can be made plain crunchy or soft. The Middle Eastern cuisine has many recipes that uses agwa, I'll share most of them with you soon. I've been looking for an ara'eesh recipe for such a long time and was so happy to find yours. Then you need to shape agwa into a rope that will take almost third of the rectangle, roll it over to form a stuffed cylinder. Press the date paste down on the dough and start to roll the dough upwards. Add oil and then stir in the sugar. For me, I like it the way I used to buy it in Egypt. You'll end up with long rolls. In this case, a portion of the dough is first pressed into the mold. First, we will need to melt butter over medium heat or you can use oil, more about that at the end of the post. Alternatively, a maamoul mold may be used to shape the cookies. As I've explained in the post above using butter or oil affects the taste and texture of the ara'eesh and so the case of using milk or water. Use oil or safe. For a amore buttery flavor I've used 3/4 cup butter and 1/4 oil. Then roll out 32 portions of the dough into smooth balls. Next add the milk, one tablespoon at a time. Warm up the milk and pour gradually over the flour until the dough comes together. When you add the milk, sometimes it might look like there is too much milk and the dough is sticky. When it is filled, they are sometimes called Kaab el ghazaal which means a deer's heel!! It is not traditional to use the mold this way, but it works better and speeds up the process. Moist Maple Sweet Potato Cake with Walnut Butter. … My tiny tart molds came to my rescue and I baked these amazing cookies for the first time. Looks so good! Enjoy the sweet, delicious taste of dates in these double-layered oatmeal cookies. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. Brushing the top with some egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds. Or laying a piece of plastic wrap into the mold prior to packing it with the cookie dough and the filling may help too. Lebanese Date Shortbread (Ma'amoul) These Lebanese shortbread cookies feature a buttery pastry scented with rose and orange blossom waters wrapped around a cinnamon and nutmeg–spiced date filling. My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. Add oil and then mix in the sugar. Make sure to space them one to two inches apart. Does this mean it is a full cup of fats? I know ... weird and I still cannot figure out the connection  .Today, I've made the first and third variations of Egyptian Ara'eesh, they tasted so good so let me show you how to make them. I am just making these now - thrilled to find this recipe as I used to work in a natural food store (The Real Food Company) in San Francisco in the 1980's and 1990's. Middle Eastern Date-Filled Cookies (Ma’amoul) by Faith (An Edible Mosaic) on May 31, 2013 in Cookies , Desserts May 31, 2013 Cookies Desserts 5.00 Mitt(s) 1 … Ingredients 1 1/2 … Each type of filling has its own mold. Pinch the rings with a cookie tweezer to decorate (so powder sugar will stick to it). I have a question, you list 1/2 cup butter and then a second entry for 1/2 cup oil or melted butter. Hala, thank you for your sweet comment and I am so sorry for the confusion dear. Melt the butter and add oil to butter then pour over the flour, make sure the mixture is not hot. I first learned about these delicious treats from a Palestinian coworker, who pointed out that maamoul are very similar to Russian tea cakes, one of my favorite cookies to … Trim off any excess dough. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends. Let me know how it went with you. For simplicity, some people skip rolling and just form it into a rectangle then cut the dough into pieces like shown below. Ma’amoul means “stuffed” and these cookies can be stuffed with a number of different fillings; date filling is traditional for holidays, but … Older people like it soft and buttery, kiddos like it buttery too. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. I have to admit I added more sugar. Heat it at medium high and when the water bubbles, lower the heat and simmer. Using water makes it lighter and using milk makes it richer. Your heart buttery cookie dates back to ancient Egypt thickness, rectangle, as the mass... Rose waters, cinnamon and butter great aunt I have not tried,... Contain all agwa which I enjoy browned nicely the flour with, nuts and fragrant,... 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