Lebanese Walnut Cookies Food

MA'AMOUL (LEBANESE DATE COOKIES)

Steps:

• Mix semolina flour, all-purpose flour, mahlab, and salt together in a large bowl. Work clarified butter into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until thoroughly incorporated. Cover bowl and let dough rest at room temperature, 8 hours to overnight.
• Pour milk into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until just warm, about 15 seconds. Stir in sugar and yeast until dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Pour yeast mixture and orange blossom water over the dough and mix until evenly moistened. Pinch off a piece of dough and roll into a ball; it should hold its shape without cracking. Add more milk or orange blossom water if needed. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Sprinkle some flour over the ma'amoul molds and tap out the excess. Pinch off a walnut-sized piece of dough and roll into a ball. Press your thumb into the ball to create space for the filling. Work the edges with your fingers so the sides are even and fairly thin. Drop in a piece of date paste and pinch dough over it to seal.
• Place cookie into the mold cavity seam-side up. Press down so that the top is flush with edges of the mold. Trim off any excess dough. Invert the mold and tap it against your work surface to release the cookie. Repeat with remaining dough and date paste, arranging cookies 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven, 1 baking sheet at a time, until edges and bottoms are golden but tops are still mostly pale, about 15 minutes.
• Sift powdered sugar over the cookies while still slightly warm. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

WALNUT-SHAPED COOKIES WITH DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Add flour and salt and mix until just incorporated; overmixing will make the dough too stiff. Cover the dough with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes, or up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Press about 1 teaspoonful of the chilled dough into the bottom and up the sides of each walnut-shaped mold. Place the molds on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned around the edges, 12 to 18 minutes. Cool for a few minutes. Lightly tap on the bottom of the mold to pop out the cookies. Let cool until easily handled.
• Spoon some dulce de leche onto the bottom of each cookie and sandwich the halves together.

LEBANESE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In mixing bowl, beat cooking oil and butter until blended; beat in sugar.
• Add orange juice, baking powder and baking soda, mix well.
• Gradually add flour to make a soft dough.
• With clean hands, shape dough into 2-inch ovals. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
• Cool about 2 minutes and remove to a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the 3/4 cup sugar, honey and 1/2 cup water, bring to a boil. Gently boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Dip the COOLED cookies into the warm syrup.
• Sprinkle immediately with the finely chopped walnuts.
• Return to wire rack to set.

LEBANESE WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper, and heat oven to 375°F.
• Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl.
• Add orange water and sifted flour, and stir until the mixture forms a thick dough.
• Set aside.
• To prepare the filling, combine the nuts, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Form 1 inch balls with the dough, and press the center to form a dent for the filling.
• Fill each cookie with about a teaspoon of the filling, and place the cookies on the parchment.
• Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden.
• Cool on wire racks.

BLACK WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients and whisk together well.
• Add nuts and toss to coat. Set aside.
• Cream butter or margerine, add sugar and beat until very fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Add vanilla.
• Alternate milk and flour mixture in thirds, beating just until combined.
• Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Drop by tablespoon onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment, leaving at least 2" between.
• Bake at 375' for 10-12 minutes or until golden.