Maamoul

Make Maamoul at home

Ingredients

• 2 cups fine semolina
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter or ghee
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp instant yeast (optional)
• 1 tbsp orange blossom or rose water
• 1 cup date paste with a pinch of cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pistachios mixed with 2 tbsp sugar
• Powdered sugar for dusting

How it's made

1. Mix semolina, flour and sugar, then rub in the melted butter and rest the dough covered for several hours or overnight.
2. Stir in the milk and flower water to make a soft, pliable dough.
3. Roll the date paste or nut mixture into small balls.
4. Take a ball of dough, flatten it, place a filling ball inside and seal.
5. Press into a maamoul mold or shape by hand and tap the mold to release.
6. Bake on a sheet at 350F for 18 to 20 minutes; the cookies should stay pale.
7. Cool completely and dust with powdered sugar.