Ma'amoul ~ Middle Eastern Date Filled Cookies
Servings 6 -8
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup semolina
- 1/3 cup ghee warm
- 1/3 cup melted butter warm
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup milk powder
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/3 tbsp instant yeast
- 1 1/2 tbsp rosewater
- 1 1/2 tbsp orange blossom water
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- FOR DATE FILLING:
- 160 gm date paste
- 1/3 tbsp melted ghee
- 1/3 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the flour and semolina well.
- Add in the ghee, butter and oil into the flour mixture and mix with your fingers to coat the flour well. DO NOT KNEAD. We just need the mixture moist.
- Set aside for a couple of hours, for the semolina to soak up the oils.
- Now add the remaining ingredients over the flour mixture and just bring the dough well together. In case required, use a couple of tablespoons of water (I didn't use). You just a well mixed dough bought together.
- Mix the ingredients under "for the date filling" well in another bowl and set aside.
- Keep a parchment or silicon sheet on an oven tray and set aside.
- Pinch dough into equal balls (I got 17) and pinch the date filling into half the size balls.
- Spread out the dough in your palm. Keep the date in the centre and wrap it. Press into a Mamoul mould to shape. Gently tap onto the sheet so that the cookie falls from the mould. Keep on the sheet. Repeat till all the dough is done. (check out the picture at the top)
- Preheat the oven to 170 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes or till the bottom is cooked.
- Switch on the grill and cook for another two minutes.
- Take out the tray and leave undisturbed for the cookies to set and cool completely, since it will be very crumbly at this stage.
- Store in air tight containers and use within two weeks.
Notes
Do not knead the dough at any stage. When you knead, it develops gluten and can make your maamoul hard.
You can use other fillings than dates, you can fill with crushed pistachios or walnuts as well.
You can use a cup of only olive oil, ghee or butter rather than a mixture, however, Sawsan mentions that the use of all three gives a better texture and flavor and I have to agree to it.
The amount of sugar mentioned is almost to nil. Increase the sugar in the dough or alternatively serve the cookies sprinkled with icing sugar.
You can use other fillings than dates, you can fill with crushed pistachios or walnuts as well.
You can use a cup of only olive oil, ghee or butter rather than a mixture, however, Sawsan mentions that the use of all three gives a better texture and flavor and I have to agree to it.
The amount of sugar mentioned is almost to nil. Increase the sugar in the dough or alternatively serve the cookies sprinkled with icing sugar.