Date Cookies (Maamoul)- Shortbread Cookies Filled with Dates

Maamoul are popular middle-eastern shortbread cookies that are usually filled with dates or nuts. They are traditionally served during special occasions or holidays like Eid or Christmas.

Dates are fruit from the date palm tree. They are not only sweet and delicious, but they are also packed with nutrients and fiber. I have loved dates ever since I was a kid, where they literally grew on trees all around us in Saudi Arabia.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed maamoul from many places and eventually learned how to make them on my own since I love them so much. I have tasted and experimented with many recipe variations to achieve this final recipe. These cookies have now become an Eid tradition in my home and loved by my family!

How to Make Date Cookies (full recipe below):

Prepare the dough by mixing together flour, ground cardamom, baking powder, and ground nutmeg with eggs, sugar, rose water, milk, and butter.

Process the pitted medjool dates in a food processor into a smooth mass.

Form dough balls. Caution, this part gets a bit sticky!

To begin filling, make a dough ball and flatten into a disk in your palm. Then place a date ball in the center and pinch the dough closed around it, ensuring the date ball is completely covered inside.

Flatten ball slightly, and use fork or a cookie stamp to create a design on top.

Place the cookies on baking trays and bake away! Garnish with confectioners’ sugar if desired.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Fresh Dates vs Date Paste. You can use either fresh dates or pre-packaged date paste as long as the dates are soft. Ensure there are no pits in the paste either if you’re going to use paste!
2. Decorating Maamoul – Maamoul is traditionally decorated using maamoul cookie molds that can be purchased at a Middle Eastern store or online. I prefer to make the cookies by hand and use cookie stamps to create designs on top.
3. Storage. These cookies should be stored in an airtight container to preserve freshness. They will stay fresh this way for up to several days (if they even last that long!)

Date Cookies (Maamoul)

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1.5 hours
Yield: Approximately 50 cookies

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 5 cups all-purpose flour (or 3 cups all-purpose flour + 2 cups course semolina flour)
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 lb unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 eggs
• ¼ cup milk
• 1½ cup sugar
• 1 tbsp rose water

For the Filling:

• Large pack of medjool dates, pitted

Confectioners’ sugar (optional, for garnishing)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 415 F.
2. Mix together the first 4 dough ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Whisk together the last 5 dough ingredients in another bowl.
4. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture, and mix or knead until a smooth dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle in some extra flour until it is a smooth and slightly sticky consistency.
5. Let the dough rest while preparing the date filling.
6. Process the pitted medjool dates in a food processor into a smooth mass, and form 50 round balls. This step can get sticky!
7. Make dough into approximately 50 balls.
8. To begin filling, take a dough ball and flatten into a disk in your palm. Then place a date ball in the center and pinch the dough closed around it, ensuring the date ball is completely covered inside.
9. Flatten ball slightly, and use fork or a cookie stamp to create a design on top.
10. Place the cookies 1-2 inches apart, design side up, on 2 large baking sheets.
11. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly golden.
12. Cool the cookies on a wire rack, and then garnish top of cookies with confectioners’ sugar if desired.