Eggless Maamoul – Egyptian Cookies

Today we reach Egypt for the month long International A- Z Blogging Marathon for the alphabet E. Egypt is transcontinental country, spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia. Most of its territory lies within the Nile Valley of North Africa and it shares its boundaries with Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, Red sea to the east and south, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. Source: WIKI . I was searching for cookies famous in Egypt and I came across so many as they celebrate Eid with lots and lots of cookies. I have seen so many bloggers who blog about the cookie platter. A huge table is filled with trays and trays of variety cookies. From the beginning of my blog, I wanted to make these types of cookies and this month has given me the perfect opportunity to try it out. In these five days I have so many cookies at home and I have given out three batches of cookies already. My kitchen is now cookie heaven. 

Coming to the cookie I selected today, it is the famous cookie Maamoul. These are small shortbread cookies with a sweet filling. There are three famous types of fillings- dates, walnuts and pistachios. Today I have selected a delicious dates filling for the cookies. Usually maamoul is made with a wooden mould, but as it is not available here, I just made it into plain cookies. And I had a pack of dates puree in my fridge. My daughter’s friend’s grandmom gave me a pack of this dates puree and I didn’t know what to do with it. So it was in my fridge for long and when I saw the recipe for these cookies, I knew that it would be perfect. If you don’t get dates puree, then cook pitter dates in butter for 20-30 minutes until tender. Just mash it and use it in the recipe. The outer portion of the cookie just melts in your mouth . These cookies are quite addictive and you will neer be able to stop at one. The dates puree is softand the combination of crumbly top with the soft interior makes it so so delicious. 

Recipe Source: Chef In Disguise

Makes 30 cookies

Ingredients:

For The Outer Dough:

Butter-1/4 cup

Ghee-1/4 cup

Oil-1/4 cup

Milk-1/8 cup

Powdered Sugar-1/4 cup

Milk Powder-1/4 cup

Vanilla-1/4 tsp

Instant Yeast-1/4 tsp

Ground Fennel-1/4 tsp

Cardamom Powder-1/4 tsp

Flour-2 1/4 cups

For The Filling:

Date Puree-250 gm

Butter-2 tbs

Cardamom Powder-1/4tsp

Procedure:

Cream together butter, ghee and oil.

Add milk and beat.

Now add powdered sugar and milk powder and beat until creamy.

Add in vanilla, yeast, fennel and cardamom powder and beat well.

Finally add in the flour and mix to form a soft dough. The dough may be slightly sticky.

Cover and set aside for 1 hour.

Mix together the dates puree, butter and cardamom to make a soft dough.

If using dates, heat butter and add the pitted dates and cardamom powder to it.

Cook until the dates are soft enough to be mashed.

Mash to form a soft dough. Allow it to cool completely.

Divide the dough and the filling into 30 equal portions. 

Preheat oven to 220°C.

Take one portion of the dough, flatten it and place one portion of the filling. Gently close the dough over the filling and arrange on a greased baking tray.

Once the tray is full, bake in oven for 10 minutes or until the bottom is golden.

Now shift the tray to the top most rack and set oven in grill or broiler mode.

Bake until the top is golden. It will take 2-4 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely before transferring to a wire rack because the cookies are very delicate.

Store in airtight jar.

Eggless Maamoul

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

For The Outer Dough

• Butter-1/4 cup
• Ghee-1/4 cup
• Oil-1/4 cup
• Milk-1/8 cup
• Powdered Sugar-1/4 cup
• Milk Powder-1/4 cup
• Vanilla-1/4 tsp
• Instant Yeast-1/4 tsp
• Ground Fennel-1/4 tsp
• Cardamom Powder-1/4 tsp
• Ground Fennel-1/4 tsp
• Cardamom Powder-1/4 tsp
• Flour-2 1/4 cups

For The Filling

• Date Puree-250 gm
• Butter-2 tbs
• Cardamom Powder-1/4tsp

Instructions

 

Procedure

• Cream together butter, ghee and oil.
• Add milk and beat.Now add powdered sugar and milk powder and beat until creamy.
• Add in vanilla, yeast, fennel and cardamom powder and beat well.
• Finally add in the flour and mix to form a soft dough. The dough may be slightly sticky.
• Cover and set aside for 1 hour.
• Mix together the dates puree, butter and cardamom to make a soft dough.
• If using dates, heat butter and add the pitted dates and cardamom powder to it.
• Cook until the dates are soft enough to be mashed.
• Mash to form a soft dough. Allow it to cool completely.
• Divide the dough and the filling into 30 equal portions.
• Preheat oven to 220°C.
• Take one portion of the dough, flatten it and place one portion of the filling. Gently close the dough over the filling and arrange on a greased baking tray.
• Once the tray is full, bake in oven for 10 minutes or until the bottom is golden.
• Now shift the tray to the top most rack and set oven in grill or broiler mode.
• Bake until the top is golden. It will take 2-4 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely before transferring to a wire rack because the cookies are very delicate.
• Store in airtight jar.

 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 44

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