Date Cookies - Makrouta

Date Cookies, or otherwise known as Makrouta, are tradition swirl cookies. These flaky and rich cookies are filled with a date paste filling scented with cardamom, cinnamon and anise. Naela creates the perfect ratio of date filling and flaky crust, perfect with a cup of tea

You will need:

To a coffee grinder, add:

• ½ cup Anise seeds
• 2 tbsp fennel seeds
• 1 tbsp sugar (white, brown or coconut)
• 8 mastika crystals
• 1 tsp mahlab seeds

In a large mixing bowl (dry then wet ingredients): 

• 4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour (sifted) 
• 1 tbsp baking powder. Mix dry ingredients well
• 1 stick of melted butter, animal or plant based
• 1 cup warm water

Knead all ingredients until you form a soft dough, then cover.

For the filling, you will need:

• 1 package of date paste or 2 packages of pitted medjool dates (for this you will need a food processor)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves

Knead all filling ingredients until you form a soft mixture. Start rolling the anise dough with a wooden rolling pin into a thin layer. Cover the rolled dough with the date filling then roll into a cylinder shape. Cut design with a knife on the top then cut into 1 inch diagonal pieces.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes on the middle rack. Enjoy!