Cook with Us #7 - Cookie Jar - Crispy Cookie Discs with Sweet Date and Nut Filling!- Recipe- @Cooknbake

cooknbake (57)in #cookwithus • 7 years ago (edited)

Hello all Steemian foodies and friends! Heres another @cookwithus fun weekly contest by the Cook with Us team:@chefsteve , @pandamama and @offoodandart!
And this weeks theme is.....
THE COOKIE JAR!
My entry for this weeks Cook with Us #7 - Contest is:

Crispy Cookie Discs with Sweet Date and Nut Filling!
@Cooknbake

-These are Middle Eastern cookies that give a light crunchy sweetness from their date and nut filling-
Since they are naturally sweetened with dates they have a minimal amount of added sugar which makes them a Delicious, Crispy Healthy treat for any time of day!

Amongst so many other delicious middle eastern food I got to learn from my grandmother (whos rich culinary experiences came from growing up in Iraq), I also had the pleasure of learning how to make these great delicious date cookies!
Ever since I was young and visited my grandmother, I would eat one of my favorite dishes that she made (Beetroot Kubbe soup with rice on the side!). When I would finish she would grab a batch of these cookies, heat it up and serve them hot crispy and delicious as if they just came out of the oven!

These cookies used to be (and still are!) our familys favorite! My grandmother had 2 freezers in her house. Since we have a VERY big family (my dad has 7 brothers) and she often got many visits, she used to fill them with all her delicious food and treats so that when someone came to visit she would quickly prepare a dish for them to eat and wouldn't let them leave on an empty stomach!
In order to give it a little boost of health she would also add ground nuts to the filling (without us knowing:) so that well secretly consume a bit more vitamins with our treat :)
I am so happy that I got a chance to learn how to make them since my family loves and enjoys them so much, just as I did when I was young:)

I am proud to share with you this recipe, for you to enjoy as well!

Crispy Cookie Discs with Sweet Date and Nut Filling- Recipe
@Cooknbake

Ingredients:

For the dough:
500gr all purpose flour
¼ cup oil (canola or olive oil)
¾ tablespoon dry instant yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup luke-warm water
1 tablespoon salt

For the filling:
250gr ground pitted dates (preferably Medjhool dates)
75gr walnuts (optional), you can also use finely chopped walnuts

For the Coating:
1 egg+1 tablespoon water (optional)
sesame seeds

Method:

To make the dough:
Whisk, mix and combine all dough ingredients together for 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic (it will be a bit dry).
Place dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free location until doubles in size (about an hour).

Meanwhile, prepare the filling:
Place nuts In a food processor and pulse until the nuts are fine and evenly ground. While processing, gradually add in the dates until mixed and combined.

Make your cookies!
-When the dough is ready, roll it into balls (40 grams each ball) and cover so that it will not dry.
-Roll the date filling into small balls (15 grams each ball).
Tip: If the date filling is too stiff to work with, you can heat is up for a few minutes in the microwave to make it easier to form.

-Flatten each dough ball in the palm of your hand and place a ball of the date filling at the center. Gently gather the edges of the dough over the date filling and pinch the edges together.
-Turn the dough over and with a rolling pin flatten on the table to form a nice, even, flat shaped cookie (so flat that you'll be able to see the dates through the dough).
-Place the cookies on a baking sheet and prick them with a fork (so they do not puff in the oven).
-Whisk the egg with water and with a pastry brush, paint the cookies with a light, even coat of egg wash.
-Sprinkle on each cookie a bit of sesame seeds.
-Bake for about 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 180° Celsius, until golden brown.

When ready - let cool on a cooling rack and enjoy each crunchy, lightly sweetened bite!

*Since my kids love these cookies I usually make a very large batch by multiplying the ingredients in this recipe.
After cooling the cookies I put them in a sealed bag and place in the freezer so that each time we feel like having a healthy treat they are available!
Simply place them straight in the toaster and they come out hot and crispy for the perfect treat!
I put them in my kids lunch-bags, take them with us on trips for a light snack, to work and just enjoy them any time of the day :)

A few tips:
-Make sure to look for any pits in the date paste.
-The date paste can be a bit sticky or hard to work with. You can heat it up a few seconds in the microwave for it to soften and be easier to manage.
-To turn this into an even healthier treat - you can use 250gr whole wheat flour and 750gr all purpose flour (note: you will need to add a bit more water in the kneading process).