
Maamoul Date Filled Cookies
User Reviews
5.0
51 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
40 mins
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Cook Time
40 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
35 cookies
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Calories
42 kcal
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Course
Dessert, Baked Goods
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Cuisine
Middle Eastern

Maamoul Date Filled Cookies
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Maamoul is a Middle Eastern cookie that's made during festivals and the month of Ramadan. It's a shortbread semolina cookies filled with dates and formed using a special mold.
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup fine semolina see notes
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup butter or ghee at room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk see notes
Date Filling
- 8 ounce date paste see notes
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
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Instructions
- In a large bowl mix the fine semolina with the all purpose flour, granulated sugar and baking powder.
- Add in the butter and mix it well into the semolina mixture. You can use your hands to rub the butter into the mixture and make sure it's all combined well.
- Add the milk in two batches and mix well after each batch until the dough comes together. The dough will be soft and you should be able to form it into balls.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make the date filling by mixing the date paste with the vegetable oil, cardamom and cinnamon. Rub some vegetable oil on your hands and palms and shape 35 balls (smaller than the mold your using) and set them aside. This will be the filling for the maamoul cookies.
- Roll the semolina dough into 35 balls slightly larger than the fillings.
- Grab one of the semolina balls and gently flatten it. Place a date ball in the middle and using your hands, gently bring the dough together to wrap the date filling without crushing it. Roll the ball in your hands to smoothen the cracks.
- Place the filled dough ball in the maamoul mold and press in ever so slightly to get the pattern on the cookie. Gently bang the mold against a cutting board to release the cookie. Place it on the baking sheet smooth side down. Repeat with the remaining dough and date filling. Place the cookies on the baking sheet with about 1 inch space in between.
- Bake the cookies in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes. The bottoms will be slightly golden.
- Top the cookies with powdered sugar if desired.
Notes
- Make sure the semolina you're using is fine and not coarse. Coarse semolina has larger grains which would not work for this recipe. You can find fine semolina at Middle Eastern or Mediterranean shops as well as online.
- You can use whole or 2% milk. I don't recommend using skim milk.
- You can find date paste at Middle Eastern or Mediterranean stores. However, if not available, you can make your own as well. Cut open 20 medjool dates and discard the seeds. Then soak them in hot water for 15 minutes. Place the dates (discard the water) in food processor and blend until the paste forms. Let it cool and use it to make the cookies.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze them for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
42kcal
(2%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
7mg
(2%)
Sodium
22mg
(1%)
Potassium
16mg
(0%)
Fiber
0.1g
(0%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
87IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
0.01mg
(0%)
Calcium
9mg
(1%)
Iron
0.2mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 35cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 42 kcal
% Daily Value*
Calories | 42kcal | 2% |
Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
Protein | 1g | 2% |
Fat | 3g | 5% |
Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
Cholesterol | 7mg | 2% |
Sodium | 22mg | 1% |
Potassium | 16mg | 0% |
Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
Sugar | 1g | 2% |
Vitamin A | 87IU | 2% |
Vitamin C | 0.01mg | 0% |
Calcium | 9mg | 1% |
Iron | 0.2mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
51 reviews
Excellent
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