maamoul (traditional lebanese date-filled cookies)

"mm-maaaaaammmoul"

"varry good yasmeen!"

my dad then takes back the package, opens it up, and shares some store-bought maamoul with me. that was one of the first words i learned how to read in arabic as a kid. really the first words i picked up were all either food or cusswords (and i mean DURRTAY cusswords), so typical of a lebanese household.

these traditional orange blossom-laced shortbread cookies stuffed with dates transcend race, hombre.

auditory pairing: tune-yards - real live flesh

maamoul

yields ~24 cookies

cookie dough:

1 c semolina/farina

2 c all purpose flour

2 sticks butter, softened

1 tbsp orange blossom water

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 c milk

date filling:

2 packages ziyad medjool baking date paste (13oz each)

also needed:

cooking spray

powdered sugar (optional)

maamoul molds

1. preheat oven to 450F. mix all dry dough ingredients, add the milk, orange blossom, and butter. mix with hands. 

2. depending on the size of your molds, take about a heaping teaspoonful of dough, roll it into a ball, then start to form a hole in the middle.

3. take about a teaspoon of date paste and place inside hole. close seams of dough.

4. spray maamoul molds with cooking spray, and press dough and date ball (that was made in step 3) into mold

5. tap mold onto the counter and the formed maamoul will fall out, place on parchment-lined cookie sheet, follow steps 2-5 for the remainder of dough and date filling

6. place cookie sheet on center rack and bake for approx 20 mins. cookies should be lightly golden but not brown.

8. once done cooking, allow cookies to cool completely, then sprinkle with powdered sugar (optional)

ENJOY!

-JA