Maamoul

also called maamoul · ma'amoul · mamoul · mamool · maamul · kaak · date maamoul · semolina cookies · date-filled cookies · Eid cookies

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Maamoul: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
1 cup(225 g; melted and cooled)unsalted butterrub the butter through the semolinarest overnight, 12 hrknead in the milk and blossom watermould, fill and sealbake at 350°F 18 min, barely coloured
2 cups(340 g)fine semolina
1 cup(170 g)coarse semolina
2 Tbs(25 g)granulated sugar
1/3 cup(80 mL)whole milk
2 Tbs(30 mL)orange blossom water
1 Tbs(15 mL)rose water
1/2 tspinstant yeast
1/2 tsp(ground)mahlab
2 cups(340 g; soft Medjool)pitted dateswork the date paste smooth
2 Tbs(30 g)unsalted butter
1/2 tspground cinnamon
1/4 tspground nutmeg
2 Tbspowdered sugar
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.17 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1rub the butter through the semolina

3work the date paste smooth

4knead in the milk and blossom water

goes in with what step 2 made

6bake at 350°F 18 min, barely coloured

goes in with what step 5 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 12 hr 20 min3 of 6 steps give no time
Needs you
about 2 min
If you get it wrong
Narrow — eighteen minutes and barely coloured; a maamoul that browns has gone dry and the moulded pattern is lost under the colour
  1. rub the butter through the semolina

    not timedfrom the start

  2. work the date paste smooth

    not timedfrom the start

  3. rest overnight, 12 hr

    12 hrwalk awayfrom the start

  4. knead in the milk and blossom water

    2 minneeds you12 hr in

  5. mould, fill and seal

    not timed12 hr 2 min in

  6. bake at 350°F 18 min, barely coloured

    18 minwalk away12 hr 2 min in

You'll need food processor · maamoul mould · oven

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Maamoul
>> category: Cookies
>> tags: semolina, dates, middle eastern, oven, moulded, eid
>> counters: Shawarma Counter
>> aka: maamoul, ma'amoul, mamoul, mamool, maamul, kaak, date maamoul, semolina cookies, date-filled cookies, Eid cookies
>> pairs-with: attar, baklava
>> servings: 24
>> time: 14 hr
>> slack: narrow — eighteen minutes and barely coloured; a maamoul that browns has gone dry and the moulded pattern is lost under the colour

>> step: rub the butter through the semolina
Rub @unsalted butter{1%cup}(225 g; melted and cooled) through @fine semolina{2%cups}(340 g), @coarse semolina{1%cup}(170 g) and @granulated sugar{2%Tbs}(25 g) with your hands until every grain is greased and the mass holds a squeeze.

>> step: rest overnight, 12 hr
Cover @&(~1)buttered semolina{} and ~rest{12%hr} at room temperature.

>> step: knead in the milk and blossom water
Knead @whole milk{1/3%cup}(80 mL), @orange blossom water{2%Tbs}(30 mL), @rose water{1%Tbs}(15 mL), @instant yeast{1/2%tsp} and @mahlab{1/2%tsp}(ground) into @&(~1)rested semolina{} ~knead{2%min} only, until it just comes together and holds a shape.

>> step: work the date paste smooth
Work @pitted dates{2%cups}(340 g; soft Medjool) with @unsalted butter{2%Tbs}(30 g), @ground cinnamon{1/2%tsp} and @ground nutmeg{1/4%tsp} in a #food processor{} to a smooth, pliable paste, then roll it into marble-sized balls.

>> step: mould, fill and seal
Take a walnut of @&(~2)maamoul dough{}, hollow it around your thumb, seat a ball of @&(~1)date paste{} inside, close it over and press it into a wooden #maamoul mould{} to turn it out.

>> step: bake at 350°F 18 min, barely coloured
Bake @&(~1)moulded cookies{} on a lined sheet in the #oven{} at 350°F (175°C) ~bake{18%min}, until the bases are set and the tops still pale. Dust with @powdered sugar{2%Tbs} once cold.