If you’re looking for a date filled cookies or to transport your taste buds to the Middle East and savor a delightful treat, you’re in for a treat with my Makrouta cookies recipe. These mouthwatering cookies are a beloved Middle Eastern delicacy, known for their unique blend of spices, sweet date filling, and an irresistible aroma. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the steps to create these delectable delights in your own kitchen.
I love spicy flavorful cookies and when the spice mix in this recipe really makes you travel to the middle east, or Levantine region.
Ingredients for Makrouta Date filled cookies:
For the cookie dough:
- 3 cups or more flour (add gradually after 2+1/2 cups)
- 3/4 cup thin semolina
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp each anise seed, fennel seed, mahalep powder or seed, cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp mastic gum (mix the spices, if need ground them with mortal and pestle and use 1 heaped tbsp for the dough and rest for the filling)
- 1/2 cup each vegetable or mix of vegetable and olive oil
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds + more when shaping
- about 1/2 cup milk when kneading the dough
For the Date Filling:
- Half a kilogram of pitted dates
- The remaining spice mix
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tbspoon of water
- Half a tablespoon of butter
- 1-2 tsp cacao powder (it is normally not used, I had to use to make the filling stiff 1 tbsp butter handful of or 1/2 cup walnuts (optional)
Preparation
Make the spice mix “Kaak”
In the recipe you can use ready spice mix named “kaak” but if you can’t find it is easy to do your own spice mix. Start by grinding the spices that are in seed form. I grind fennel seeds, cardamom after taking out the seed from the pods and mastic gum. Added a bit of sugar to help the grinding process. Then added the mahalep powder and mixed.
The Cookie Dough
- Combine the dry ingredients for the cookie dough in big mixing bowl; 2+1/2 cups of the flour, semolina, sugar, 1 heaped tbsp of the spice mix and a bit more and dry yeast. Make sure to sift the flour.
- Melt the butter. Add over the dry ingredients along with vegetable oil and orange blossom water if you have. With a wooden spoon or by hand stir the mixture well.
- Gradually add the milk while kneading the dough until it becomes smooth and no longer sticky. You can adjust the consistency with more flour if needed.
- Allow the dough to rest for about an hour to let the semolina absorb the moisture. While the dough is resting, prepare the date filling.
Date Filling
Try to choose soft dates but medjool type can also work. On middle eastern soted they also sell ready date paste for this an similar recipes like “mamoul”. But I used soft dates in a box after pitting them.
Combine pitted dates with the remaining spice mix in. a food processor with cinnamon, a tbsp of water if your dates are hard, and a tablespoon of butter. Process until smooth. If the mixture is not stiff or light in color you can add a bit cocoa powder to adjust consistency. In the second batch I also added handful of walnuts and processed.
Assembling the Makrouta Date Filled Cookies
- Divide the dough into two portions and roll each portion out on baking paper into about cm of thickness and rectangular.
- Spread a layer of the date filling on one piece of dough and shape it.
- Fold the sides of the dough over the filling, about 3-4 cm in from each side. Cut the folded dough in the middle, then fold the remaining portion to cover the sides of the cookies. Roll it in sesame seeds.
- Cut the cookies into approximately 2 cm thick pieces. You can place them on the tray in the same direction you cut them, or follow the traditional method and don’t flip them.
- Repeat the process for the second portion of the dough, adding cocoa powder and walnuts to the date filling to create a darker and slightly stiffer paste.
Baking and Enjoying Date Filled Cookies
Bake the Makrouta cookies in a preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, rotating the trays to ensure even baking. The result is a delicious, crumbly, and crunchy cookie with a chewy, sweet date filling.
Taste one of these delightful cookies, and you’ll be transported to the heart of the Middle East, where these cookies are cherished. The addition of cocoa powder and walnuts in the second batch offers a deeper flavor and a satisfying crunch. It’s an optional twist that works beautifully.
Delicious Makrouta Date Filled Cookies: A Taste of the Middle East
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 3 cups or more flour add gradually after 2+1/2 cups
- 3/4 cup thin semolina
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp each anise seed fennel seed, mahalep powder or seed, cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp mastic gum mix the spices, if need ground them with mortal and pestle and use 1 heaped tbsp for the dough and rest for the filling
- 1/2 cup each vegetable or mix of vegetable and olive oil
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds + more when shaping
- 1/2 cup milk when kneading the dough
For the Date Filling:
- 500 gram dates pitted
- 1 tbsp spice mix
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp water
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1-2 tsp cacao powder it is normally not used, I had to use to make the filling stiff 1 tbsp butter handful of or 1/2 cup walnuts (optional
Instructions
Make the spice mix “Kaak”
- In the recipe you can use ready spice mix named “kaak” but if you can’t find it is easy to do your own spice mix. Start by grinding the spices that are in seed form. I grind fennel seeds, cardamom after taking out the seed from the pods and mastic gum. Added a bit of sugar to help the grinding process. Then added the mahalep powder and mixed.
The Cookie Dough
- Combine the dry ingredients for the cookie dough in big mixing bowl; 2+1/2 cups of the flour, semolina, sugar, 1 heaped tbsp of the spice mix and a bit more and dry yeast. Make sure to sift the flour.
- Melt the butter. Add over the dry ingredients along with vegetable oil and orange blossom water if you have. With a wooden spoon or by hand stir the mixture well.
- Gradually add the milk while kneading the dough until it becomes smooth and no longer sticky. You can adjust the consistency with more flour if needed.
- Allow the dough to rest for about an hour to let the semolina absorb the moisture. While the dough is resting, prepare the date filling.
Date Filling
- Try to choose soft dates but medjool type can also work. On middle eastern soted they also sell ready date paste for this an similar recipes like “mamoul”. But I used soft dates in a box after pitting them.
- Combine pitted dates with the remaining spice mix in. a food processor with cinnamon, a tbsp of water if your dates are hard, and a tablespoon of butter. Process until smooth. If the mixture is not stiff or light in color you can add a bit cocoa powder to adjust consistency. In the second batch I also added handful of walnuts and processed.
Assembling the Makrouta Date Filled Cookies
- Divide the dough into two portions and roll each portion out on baking paper into about cm of thickness and rectangular.
- Spread a layer of the date filling on one piece of dough and shape it.
- Fold the sides of the dough over the filling, about 3-4 cm in from each side. Cut the folded dough in the middle, then fold the remaining portion to cover the sides of the cookies. Roll it in sesame seeds.
- Cut the cookies into approximately 2 cm thick pieces. You can place them on the tray in the same direction you cut them, or follow the traditional method and don’t flip them.
- Repeat the process for the second portion of the dough, adding cocoa powder and walnuts to the date filling to create a darker and slightly stiffer paste.
Baking and Enjoying Date Filled Cookies
- Bake the Makrouta cookies in a preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, rotating the trays to ensure even baking. The result is a delicious, crumbly, and crunchy cookie with a chewy, sweet date filling.
I would like to thank to dear falasteenifoodie.com that I inspired for the recipe. Here is the her version of the recipe: https://falasteenifoodie.com/palestinianhttps://falasteenifoodie.com/palestinian-makrouta/-makrouta/
Also check my other Turkish style filled cookie recipes like Turkish Apple Filled Cookies or Turkish Delight Filled Cookies or Orange Nut Cookies – Stays Fresh & Freezer Friendly!
Cultural Connection
Makrouta cookies are a delightful reminder of the shared food culture and traditions that bring people together in the Middle East. These sweet treats are a testament to the delicious connections that unite us across borders and cultures.
Now that you have the recipe for these delectable Makrouta cookies, it’s time to get your hands busy in the kitchen and enjoy a taste of the Middle East. Share your experiences and let me know how your homemade Makrouta cookies turn out. And remember, food has a unique way of bringing us closer, transcending our differences and celebrating our shared love for delectable flavors.
I hope you enjoy making and savoring these delightful cookies. Stay tuned for more delicious Turkish food recipes and travel insights.
Afiyet Olsun!
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