Maamoul Date Cookies
| Serves: 4 | Course: Dessert | Category: Cookies & biscuits | Machine: Cooking machine, Mixer | Total time (min.): 4 hours 15 |
A very traditional Middle Eastern filled biscuit, this maamoul recipe will give you the easiest rendition of maamoul with a spiced date filling. The pastry is made with a combination of fine semolina and plain flour. Sometimes pistachios or walnuts are used as a filling. Some recipes include Mahleb, a Middle Eastern spice, made from cherry stones that is commonly used in Middle Eastern breads, cakes and biscuits. Orange blossom water or rose water may also be added. Usually, maamoul is prepared in ornate moulds that you can get in different patterns. Maamoul is commonly served during Eid Al Fitr (a Muslim celebration that follows Ramadan, the month of fasting and Eid Al Adh, the celebration that follows Hajj, a Muslim pilgrimage). Maamoul is also served during Easter in the Middle East.
Ingredients
- 220g Unsalted Butter
- 390g Dates
- 100g Milk
- 135g Plain Flour
- 360g Fine Semolina Flour
- 40g Caster Sugar
- 3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Tools
- Oven
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Stove
- Kenwood Chef
- Baking tray - large
- Saucepan - small
- Kenwood bowl - kenwood chef
- Work surface
- Food processor attachment
- Small bowl
- Lightly floured surface
Method
- Add unsalted butter and milk to a clean saucepan
- Heat until simmering - medium-high heat
- Remove from the heat and set aside
- Attach K Beater
- Add plain flour, fine semolina flour and caster sugar to the Kenwood Bowl
- Mix with splashguard fitted until combined - 10 sec, Speed 1
- Pour milk mixture into Kenwood Bowl gradually while machine is running
- Mix with splashguard fitted then scrape bowl - 2 min, Speed 1
- Mix with splashguard fitted - 1 min, Speed 1
- Transfer dough to work surface
- Knead until smooth
- Transfer dough to Kenwood Bowl
- Cover with kitchen towel
- Let rest - 3 hr
- Line a clean baking tray with parchment paper
- Lightly flour the moulds
- Assemble the Food Processor attachment to the machine
- Fit the Knife Blade to the machine
- Add dates, vegetable oil and ground cinnamon to the Food processor attachment
- Attach the lid and ensure it is locked into place
- Mix until smooth
- Transfer mixture to small bowl
- Shape into balls
- Place balls on baking tray then set aside
- Pre-heat oven - 180°C
- Transfer dough to lightly floured surface
- Knead until soft - approx 5 min
- Shape into balls
- Flatten into a circle
- Hold it in the centre of your palm and press it into a cup shape
- Place a ball of the date mixture inside the cup
- Bring the edges of the dough over the filling
- Press the seams to seal
- Roll into balls
- Place the dough balls into the prepared moulds
- Once shaped, tap them out onto a work surface
- Place cookies on baking tray
- Bake until golden brown - 20 min, 180°C
- Remove from oven
- Turn out onto cooling rack until completely cool
- Serve