Maamoul (Date Filled Cookies)
Maamoul is a shortbread-like cookie typically filled with date paste, pistachios, or walnuts. You may also know it as Ka3ek, Ma3moul, or Ka3ek El Eid. In this blog post, I will share the buttery cookie dough and date filling recipe, which is the most iconic and traditional. These are necessary during Middle Eastern holidays like Ramadan, Eid, and Easter. Although somewhat time-consuming to prepare, they are a true treat that is just as delicious as beautiful.
These are known to be intricately designed cookies that melt in your mouth. Often, a different design per filling so you can set the cookie apart without biting into it. There are tongs to help create the designs, as well as many styles of molds. You can read more about that below. And these are almost always topped with a heavy dusting of powdered sugar too.
Why try this Easy Maamoul recipe:
Something unique about this maamoul recipe that sets it apart from most others is that my cookie dough recipe has no semolina. To me, this yields a more desired cookie texture, but not only that, it saves you time as well. Most semolina-based maamoul recipes must rest for hours or overnight before using the cookie dough. You can immediately use the dough to stuff and bake in my recipe. Making it a more seamless process!
My mom has been making this recipe for most of my life, and I believe it to be the best maamoul. It was always a fun team effort to make batches of these cookies with all the delicious fillings. You can easily have a maamoul party! I love maamoul so much that I even created a cake around the flavors of the beloved date cookie-check out my maamoul cake. Feel free to read the blogpost to learn how to make maamoul before checking out the recipe card. There is always helpful information that will help you with the process!
How to make my Date Maamoul recipe:
- Prepare the filling. I like to do this first so the cookies are ready to stuff when the dough is made. The fillings can also be made ahead of time. Often, I prep the date paste filling and even shape them into small round balls, so it is as simple as stuffing it in the cookie dough the next day. They are also easier to work with when the date paste is stiffer and not as soft.
- Prepare the cookie dough. The cookie dough batter needs flour, butter, powdered sugar, maamoul cookie spice, ground anise, milk powder, water, and mahlab & mastic (optional but recommended). Most of these ingredients can be found at your local Middle Eastern store. The key is getting the right consistency, making it pliable to stuff and design. *Maamoul spices may also be labeled at the Arab store as Kaek or Cookie spice.
- Stuff the cookies. To this, take a piece of cookie dough (about 1 tbsp), make a well into the dough (shape it like a mushroom cap) and add a small spoonful of nut filling or a prepared date ball. Fold the cookie dough around the stuffing and shape it like a ball using both palms.
- Design the cookies. There are different ways to go about decorating the cookies. There are many molds out there, whether on Amazon or at the Arab store; you will find wooden maamoul moulds or plastic push molds with all these beautiful designs. You can also pick up small tongs and design the cookie by pinching the dough. See the photos and video tutorials below to see how I do this best. I find tongs to be the best way to go as far as maintaining the design after the cookie is baked, and I like getting creative with them.
The Most popular Maamoul Fillings:
- Date Paste: You can buy or make your date paste. I purchased mine-you can find it at your local Arab store. I prefer Ziyad Brand Baking Date Paste. For this recipe, you will need 3 of the 13 oz packages. However, you can also make your own, take pits from the Medjool dates and place them in a bowl of warm water for several minutes. Then, once softened, add the dates to a heavy-duty food processor to blend them into a paste. To the date paste, I add ground anise and ground cinnamon-this is a must!
- Nuts: Typically, ground pistachio or walnut mixed with simple syrup for sweetness, a hint of cinnamon, and orange blossom water.
Check out these other traditional Middle Eastern desserts:
Ghraybeh (simple shortbread cookie), Basbousa (Semolina Cake), Mabrouseh (shortbread filled crumb bars), and so much more.
Rate & Review the recipe
I cannot wait for you to try this maamoul cookie recipe. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below if you try it. Please leave a rating too; it would mean a lot. Feel free to ask any questions; I will do my best to reply. Send your remakes to my Instagram page for a chance to be featured. I also love to see your creations! Thank you so much.
Maamoul
Ingredients
Maamoul Dough
- 6 cups All-purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1/4 cup Milk Powder ex: Nido or carnation
- 2.5 tbsp Ma'amoul spice also known as Cookie Spice or Kaek spice at the Arab store.
- 2 tbsp Ground Anise
- 2 tsp Ground Mahlab
- 1/2 tsp Ground Mastic
- 3 cups Semi-melted unsalted Butter (I use Crisco butter flavor) *microwave for 1 min 20 sec for desired consistency
- 1 cup Water start at using 3/4 cup and gradually add as needed.
Date Filling
- 36oz Baking Date Paste
- 1.5 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Ground Anise
- 1 tbsp Butter, room temp. I use the same Crisco butter flavor here as I did with the dough
Topping
- Powdered sugar, to your prefrence
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the date paste with the ground anise, cinnamon, and room temperature butter. You can prep the date paste into tsp size balls and set aside. These are ready at this point to be placed in the cookie dough. * You can make the date balls the night before and keep in the fridge for the next day.
- In a large bowl, combine all the flour, powdered sugar, milk powder, cookie spice, ground mahlab and mastic, ground anise, and stir together.
- To this, add the semi-melted butter. Gently start mixing with your hands rubbing the ingredients between your palms rather than kneading the dough.
- Then, add the water to the dough. Start with 1/2 a cup and mix as you did above and add the remaining 1/2 cup of water and mix with your hands. The dough should be soft and pliable to work with and not crumbly. If necessary, add a spoon of water at a time and make sure all the components are well combined. Keep the dough covered with a towel so it does not dry as you work.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Grab about a tbsp of the dough and shape it into a mini bowl in the palm of your hands. Insert the date ball into this well and wrap the dough around the date to cover it entirely. Flatten the ball and shape into a round cookie. Insert a mini dowel or back of a clean new pen in the center to create a little hole. Use clippers/tongs to decorate the edges and top of the cookie. * Please see photos and video for a visual if needed.
- Place the cookies onto the baking sheet and bake for about 15-18 minutes until lightly browned on the bottom. Then, broil the top for about a minute until it has some color but keep an eye on them as to not burn.
- Once cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar and store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
My mom and I have tried lots of maamoul recipes, and this one is by far the BEST! So butter and soft and delicious. Give it a try, you won’t regret it!
Easy to follow ! excellent consistency of the dough. Tastes great!
Honestly I was always too intimidated to make maamoul- until I saw Heifas version! It is so good and so easy to make. It was the first recipe I tried of hers and it was not the last! Hers have been my go to ever since!
I really love this maamoul! It is super soft and melts in your mouth! Absolutely amazing❤️
I loveeee this Maamoul recipe. The cookies came out soft and delicious and I appreciate not having to let it rest for a long time. This is my go to recipe for Eid!
I tried your recipe and it smells amazing but I don’t know why my mammoul shape didn’t stay the same . It became a circle and the design went away . Can you help me understand why is that
Can I use the unflavored powdered coffee creamer for the powdered milk?
Hi,
I would recommend dry milk powder brands like Nido or Carnation. I am not sure how well powdered coffee creamer would do!
Easily one of the most delicious and straightforward recipes for ma’amoul, the closest I’ve tried to my mom’s. Followed the recipe to a T and the results are fantastic, don’t skip the broiling step! The sweetness of the date filling is balanced with the shortbread consistency of the dough. I doubt these will last till Eid morning in this house! Heifa never misses.
I just made this recipe today, it is by far the best recipe I’ve made. Thank you
This Ma3moul recipe is so delicious and simple to make. It holds really well and doesn’t crumble all over the place. Will definitely make again!
This kaek recipe is the only one i’ve tried that reminds me of my grandmas cooking. Feeling nostalgic and so happy to find this!
The best Maamoul recipe ever!! I never tried making Maamoul before so this is my first time and they are delicious! I will only be using this recipe from now on.
Best maamouk recipe I tried! Delicious!!
I can never have enough of Maamoul Cookies especially these!
my favorite 😍
It was a great recipe and the whole family enjoyed it. She makes her recipes so easy to read and understand.
Being Egyptian, we don’t really make ma’moul, but rather kahk. Have always loved ma’moul but never had a good recipe that actually tasted like what my Palestinian neighbours used to send over…until I found this recipe. Thank you so much!
THE BESTTTTTTT RECIPE !!!! Like seriously give it a try you will not be disappointed! My new go to recipe. Thank you for sharing