Maamoul: stuffed date-orange cookies recipe

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Step 2

For the date-orange filling: Puree the filling ingredients in a food processor until evenly combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and set aside. Clean the processor bowl.

Step 3

For the dough: Put the flour, baking powder, 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar and the salt in the bowl of food processor and pulse 3 to 4 times to mix. Add the butter, milk and oil, pulsing until the dough just comes together. Take care not to overwork the dough; it will be slightly wet.

Step 4

Remove the dough from the processor, and roll into 20 equally sized balls. In the palm of your hand, press and pat each ball of dough into a 2 3/4-inch round. Place a rounded teaspoon of filling in the center of each round and draw the edges up and around the filling. Pinch the dough together to make a sealed ball, and then carefully roll the cookie between your palms to make a smooth round ball. Press gently to flatten the cookie slightly, then place seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Gently prick the cookies with a fork or a wooden skewer in a decorative pattern taking care not to pierce the dough to the filling.

Step 5

Bake the cookies until firm and slightly puffed, and the tops are pale but the bottoms are just beginning to turn slightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Dust generously with confectioners' sugar, cool and dust again.

Step 6

Puree the ingredients in a food processor until evenly combined.

Step 7

Puree the ingredients in a food processor until evenly combined.