Description
Maamoul are traditional Middle Eastern date-filled cookies with a delicate, buttery texture and a subtle aroma of rose water. These melt-in-your-mouth treats are commonly enjoyed during festive occasions such as Eid, Christmas, and Easter. Made with a simple dough enriched with ghee or butter and filled with sweet date paste, maamoul offers a perfect balance of natural sweetness and fragrant flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- ¾ cup ghee (or 1 cup butter, you may substitute up to ¼ cup ghee with a 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)
Filling
- ¾ lb soft Medjool dates (pitted and chopped, or approximately 13 oz ready-made date paste)
Topping
- Confectioner’s sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the ghee (or butter) with sugar until well incorporated. Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour and rose water, stirring continuously. Add the milk slowly, one tablespoon at a time, to bring the dough together. Knead gently until you achieve a soft, pliable dough that is not sticky.
- Prepare the Filling: If using whole Medjool dates, pit and finely chop them or process into a smooth paste. You may also use pre-made date paste. The filling should be sticky and easy to mold.
- Shape the Cookies: Divide the dough into 32 equal portions. Flatten each portion into a disc and place a spoonful of date filling in the center. Fold the edges to encase the filling and shape into a smooth ball or use a traditional maamoul mold or stamp to press decorative patterns.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the shaped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Avoid over-baking to maintain their melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving for a classic presentation and a touch of extra sweetness.
Notes
- Maamoul cookies are traditionally made with ghee for authentic flavor, but butter or a mix of butter and neutral oil can be used as substitutes.
- The rose water or orange blossom water gives these cookies their distinctive floral fragrance, which can be adjusted according to preference.
- These cookies are a festive staple in many Middle Eastern households during religious and cultural celebrations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 105 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 11 mg
