Description
Maamoul are traditional Middle Eastern cookies with a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth dough filled with naturally sweet dates. Popular during holidays like Eid, Christmas, and Easter, these cookies are soft, delicately flavored, and beautifully designed.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup ghee or 1 cup butter (can substitute up to ¼ cup with neutral oil)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons rose water or orange blossom water
- 2–3 tablespoons milk, as needed
- ¾ lb soft Medjool dates, pitted and chopped, or 13 oz date paste
- Confectioner’s sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Melt ghee or butter and stir in the sugar.
- Combine with flour, rubbing mixture with fingers until incorporated.
- Mix in rose water, then gradually add milk and knead into a soft dough. Let rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide dough into 32 smooth balls.
- Process dates into a paste and divide into 32 small balls.
- Flatten a dough ball, place a date ball in the center, wrap and seal it, then gently roll and flatten. Use a mold if desired.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet, spacing 1–2 inches apart.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes until pale golden. Cool on a wire rack.
- Dust with powdered sugar once cooled.
Notes
- Orange blossom water can replace rose water for a different flavor.
- Spices like cinnamon or cardamom can be added to the date filling.
- Substitute part of the flour with whole wheat pastry flour for a healthier option.
- Use vegan butter and almond milk for a vegan version.
- Freeze unbaked cookies for later and bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
