During Eid, it is customary for people to drop in on friends and relatives, bringing cookies as a gift. Khader Masri, who gave us this recipe, classifies these cookies as petits fours. They're similar to ma'amoul, a round date- or nut-filled cookie common in the Middle East.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pressed dates
- 1 1⁄2 lb. (6 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups toasted sesame seeds
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Instructions
Step 1
Beat pressed dates and 1⁄2 lb. (2 sticks) of the butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until well combined and smooth, 2-3 minutes. Set filling aside.
Step 2
Beat sugar and the remaining butter together in another large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on high speed until well combined. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour, beating until a smooth dough forms.
Step 3
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, divide into quarters, and roll each piece into a ball (chill dough in the refrigerator if it is too soft to work with). Roll dough balls out on the floured surface with your hands into four 1"-diameter cylinders. Dust your fingertips with flour and press center of each dough cylinder to make a 1⁄2"-deep indentation the length of each cylinder. Fill dough cylinders with one-quarter of the date filling. Work dough around filling (including ends of each cylinder) and pinch seems shut, completely closing filling. Sprinkle an even layer of sesame seeds onto a clean surface and roll dough cylinders in seeds, gently pressing seeds into dough for at least 30 minutes to chill.
Step 4
Preheat oven to 375°. Cut each dough cylinder crosswise into 1"-wide pieces and transfer to a baking sheet, seed side down, about 1⁄2" apart. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
- Beat pressed dates and 1⁄2 lb. (2 sticks) of the butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until well combined and smooth, 2-3 minutes. Set filling aside.
- Beat sugar and the remaining butter together in another large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on high speed until well combined. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour, beating until a smooth dough forms.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, divide into quarters, and roll each piece into a ball (chill dough in the refrigerator if it is too soft to work with). Roll dough balls out on the floured surface with your hands into four 1"-diameter cylinders. Dust your fingertips with flour and press center of each dough cylinder to make a 1⁄2"-deep indentation the length of each cylinder. Fill dough cylinders with one-quarter of the date filling. Work dough around filling (including ends of each cylinder) and pinch seems shut, completely closing filling. Sprinkle an even layer of sesame seeds onto a clean surface and roll dough cylinders in seeds, gently pressing seeds into dough for at least 30 minutes to chill.
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cut each dough cylinder crosswise into 1"-wide pieces and transfer to a baking sheet, seed side down, about 1⁄2" apart. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
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