Starting the Color Brown theme I bring you an easy and of course delicious version of Maamoul. This Arabian dessert is a delicate cookie dough filled with dates that are perfumed with cardamom and cinnamon.
Maamoul is mostly made and served on special occasions like Eid but you know how things are here at Munaty Cooking, we believe that delicious food should not be enjoyed on special occasions only and for this reason, I ask you to make some Maamoul today!
Making Maamoul - Date Filled Cookies.
When I was a little girl, the idea of making Maamoul scared me, I always saw a group of women spending most of the day in the kitchen making Maamoul. Silly me, I thought this dessert is time consuming but in reality, it was so simple and tasty that women spend all that time making big batches of it.
This filled cookie can be found in different shapes and sizes too. Maamoul molds can be big or small in size but are traditionally made from wood. However, you don’t need to buy a mold, my dear, look at the picture below! I have used the back of a juicer top as a mold.
I have flipped the juicer top, filled it with the cookie dough, and it worked like a charm. Therefore, be creative and make different designs (if you wish) with cookie cutters or even plastic molds, it will not affect the taste.
Maamoul Tip and Recipe.
Do not over bake the Maamoul, it might look under baked after 20 minutes, but after you let it cool it will firm up and will melt in your mouth. Over baking will make it very crunchy and it will lose the buttery flavor.
Enjoy this Arabian Delight and Follow me on Pinterest.
Ingredients
- FOR THE DOUGH
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup butter melted and hot
- ¼ teaspoon Mahlab optional
- 2 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- FOR THE FILLING
- ¾ cup pitted and chopped date
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
Instructions
- TO MAKE THE DOUGH
- Mix the vanilla with milk and oil, keep aside.
- In a bowl add all the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour the hot butter into the flour and mix using a whisk until well combined.
- Add the milk and knead for at least 5 minutes. Cover and leave in a warm place for one hour.
- TO MAKE THE FILLING
- In a saucepan, add all the ingredients and stir on medium heat. The date will soften and will form into a dough like texture. This process and depending on the type of dates you are using might take 3 minutes to four minutes.
- Let the mixture cool completely then form 10 equal balls.
- MAKING MAAMOUL
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Grease a baking pan with butter and keep aside.
- Form 10 equal balls from the dough previously prepared. Take one ball and flatten it slightly in the palm of your hand. Place a ball of date in the center and close the dough forming a sealed ball.
- Place the ball in a mold, press it gently until the surface is even.
- Slam the edge of the mold on folded towel, a clean kitchen counter, or cutting board few times to release the dough from the mold.
- Place the Maamoul on a nonstick or greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes. When it cools dust with confectioners’ sugar if you wish.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Pretty cool that you have used juicer top to shape the cookies. I would love one now :-))
munatycooking
You will love Maamoul, it is so buttery and flaky almost like having a bite size pie 🙂
Selma
Can we use wheat flour instead of all purpose flour???
munatycooking
You can, but then you have to add more liquid to it and the baking time will be a little longer. It will not taste as good though since these cookies are meant to be delicate and flaky.
Rafeeda@The Big Sweet Tooth
I am so much in love with that idea of using the citrus juicer top to make the shape! Your mamoul looks amazing... It is a loved cookie and I can eat a few in a sitting...
munatycooking
Thanks Rafeeda! Yes Maamoul is an irresistible dessert indeed 🙂
Salwah
The use of a juicer top is a stroke of genius, and they look absolutely perfect! Thank you for sharing. I was becoming despondent, since I couldn't think of any substitution for the mould and didn't really want to roll them into balls. Plus I don't think I'll be able to get any mahlab... But you've gotten me excited to try all over again. Thank you! ?
munatycooking
I know what you mean! I was frustrated too when couldn't find maamoul mold. These were really awesome and making them was easy and didn't take time too. Glad that I encouraged you to make some 🙂
Faseeha Yaseen
Can yu mention ingredients in grams pls
munatycooking
Hi Faseeha, will try to do so in the future but you can convert cups to grams using google for now!