Description
Maamoul, a cherished Middle Eastern date-filled cookie, showcases Lebanon’s rich culinary heritage. Sweet, buttery pastry envelops fragrant date filling, offering a delightful taste of traditional baking. Bakers everywhere can savor this delicate treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 10 ounces (283 grams) date paste or 20 pureed Medjool dates
- 1 1/4 cups semolina flour
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (170 grams) ghee or clarified butter
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1–3 tablespoons milk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons orange blossom water or vanilla extract
Flavoring and Sweeteners:
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons mahleb (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper for even baking.
- Cream butter until fluffy, then incorporate sugar, egg, and orange blossom water until the mixture becomes smooth and pale.
- Combine flour varieties and optional mahleb, working the ingredients into a crumbly texture. Gradually adjust consistency with milk or flour until the dough becomes malleable. Allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes to enhance texture.
- Create small walnut-sized dough portions. Using a traditional maamoul mold or hand-shaping technique, carefully encase date paste filling within each cookie, ensuring complete and secure sealing.
- Position filled cookies on prepared baking sheets and bake for 15-17 minutes, watching for a delicate golden hue. Remove from oven and let cookies cool completely at room temperature. Generously dust with confectioners’ sugar for a classic finish, creating an elegant and traditional Middle Eastern sweet treat.
Notes
- Choose high-quality, soft dates for the most authentic and rich filling, ensuring a smooth, spreadable texture.
- Experiment with different spices like mahleb or cardamom to add unique Middle Eastern flavor depth to the cookie base.
- Work with cold butter and handle dough gently to maintain a delicate, crumbly texture that melts in your mouth.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, swap wheat flour with a blend of almond and rice flour to create a delicious alternative without compromising traditional taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 164
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg