Lebanese Cookies

Delight in the delicate flavors of traditional Lebanese cookies, a melt-in-your-mouth treat infused with the rich aromas of rose water and orange blossom water. These buttery, tender cookies are made with a blend of fine semolina and flour, filled with a luscious spiced date paste, and beautifully shaped using a ma’amoul mold or simple fork patterns. With just a hint of ground cinnamon and a dusting of powdered sugar, each bite offers a perfect harmony of sweetness and spice. Perfect for sharing during holidays, gatherings, or as an everyday indulgence, these authentic Middle Eastern cookies are a timeless recipe that’s surprisingly easy to make at home. Bake a batch to experience the irresistible charm of Lebanese desserts!

Nutriscore Rating: 50/100

Prep Time:60 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:80 mins

Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 300 grams Fine semolina
• 100 grams All-purpose flour
• 200 grams Unsalted butter
• 50 grams Powdered sugar
• 50 milliliters Milk
• 1 tablespoon Rose water
• 1 tablespoon Orange blossom water
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 150 grams Ground dates
• 1 tablespoon Butter (for filling)
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 30 grams Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the semolina, flour, powdered sugar, and baking powder.

Step 2

Melt the butter and pour it over the dry ingredients. Mix well until the texture resembles wet sand.

Step 3

Add the milk, rose water, and orange blossom water to the mixture. Knead gently until you form a soft, pliable dough. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, prepare the filling by mixing the ground dates, butter, and cinnamon until it forms a paste.

Step 5

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 6

Divide the dough into 24 equal portions and roll them into balls.

Step 7

Flatten each dough ball into a disc and place a small amount of the date paste in the center. Fold the edges over the filling and roll it back into a ball to seal the filling inside.

Step 8

If you have a ma'amoul mold, press the filled dough into the mold to create decorative patterns. Tap gently to release the cookie. If not, you can flatten the ball slightly and use a fork to create patterns on top.

Step 9

Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.

Step 10

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. The tops should remain pale.

Step 11

Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, dust them with powdered sugar before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(931.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3764.8

Total Fat 188.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 108.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 478.5mg	0%
Sodium 506.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 492.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.2g	0%
Total Sugars 181.8g
Protein 54.4g	0%

Vitamin D 29.7IU	0%
Calcium 284.4mg	0%
Iron 9.8mg	0%
Potassium 1842.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 43.7%

Protein: 5.6%

Carbs: 50.7%