Date Cookies Eid Cookies Recipes

DATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until well combined, about 2 minutes.
• Add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until the flour is well incorporated. Stir in the pecans and dates.
• If time permits, cover the dough with plastic and chill for 2 hours or overnight. This allows the cookies to be thicker more chewy.
• Scoop the chilled dough using a spring-loaded cookie scoop onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. It should make about 48 cookies
• Bake 8-11 minutes, or until golden brown and cookie is puffed.
• Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

DATE COOKIES (EID COOKIES)

Steps:

• Mix flour, ground fenugreek, salt, granulated sugar and instant yeast in a large bowl.
• Add the clarified butter; mix with your hands until well incorporated.
• Heat the milk until warm; add gradually to flour mixture.
• Knead to form a soft dough.
• Cover with a damp cloth for 1/2 hour.
• Put the dates in a bowl; add nutmeg; knead with your hands.
• Take a small piece of dough; pat down onto work surface.
• Take a smaller piece of dates and roll it with your hands to form a small rope.
• Place the date rope in the middle of the piece of dough and enclose it with the dough and roll into a rope; make sure the date is entirely covered with dough.
• Shape your rope into an 'S' and place on a baking sheet.
• Repeat with the remainder of dough and date filling.
• Brush your 'S's with egg white; sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden in color.

MA'AMOUL MED (ORANGE AND ESPRESSO DATE COOKIE BARS)

Steps:

• To make the dough: In a medium bowl, combine the flours, salt, sugar, mahlab, and yeast. Add the butter to the dry ingredients and mix by hand or in a mixer until it forms a paste. Cover with plastic wrap or a dish towel and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.
• To make the filling: While the flour mixture rests, immerse the dates in hot tap water and allow them to soak for about 10 minutes or until softened. Once they are soft, drain thoroughly and pulse them in the bowl of a food processor along with the butter, espresso powder, cinnamon, orange zest, and cardamom to form a sticky paste. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 15 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, the dough will have hardened, so use a wooden spoon or other utensil such as a dough cutter to break up the dough a bit. Pour the milk and orange blossom water into the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Let stand at room temperature for another 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F. Cut four sheets of parchment paper to fit an 8-by-11-inch sheet tray. Form the dough into a ball and divide it into 2 equal parts.
• Press half the dough onto one of the sheets of parchment. Layer a second piece of parchment on top and, using a rolling pin, roll an even ¼-inch crust to the paper's edges. Remove the top layer of parchment and flip the dough into the sheet tray. Re-use the sheets of parchment and roll out the second ball of dough. Set aside.
• Sandwich the date filling between two new sheets of parchment and roll into an even ¼-inch layer, out to the paper's edges. Remove the top sheet and flip the date layer onto the dough. Remove the remaining parchment. Flip the remaining dough over the date filling and remove the final sheet of parchment.
• Transfer the sheet tray to the oven and bake, rotating the tray once, until the bars are light golden brown on the edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven and, when it is cool enough to touch, cut the bars into 2-by-2-inch squares. Transfer the tray to a wire rack to finish cooling. When the ma'amoul is completely cool, dust with the confectioners' sugar before serving. The bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.