Date Maqrouta (Delicious Date Pastries)

Ingredients

• 2 kg flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups ghee (or clarified butter)
• 2 cups raw sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon mahleb (ground cherry pit) or ground spice
• 2 tablespoons powdered milk
• 2 tablespoons cake spice blend (dakkat al-kaak)
• 1 tablespoon ground anise
• water as needed
• For the filling:
• 1 kg ground dates
• For more of Israa's desserts see: Pâté Sablé / Petit Four

Method

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together and make a well in the center.
2. Pour the oil and ghee into the well and rub them into the flour mixture until combined.
3. Add water gradually and knead until you have a cohesive dough.
4. Place the ground dates between two sheets of plastic and roll them out into a flat circle using a rolling pin.
5. Roll out the maqrouta dough in the same way, place the flattened date filling on top and roll it up into a log. It is important that neither the date filling nor the dough be too thick.
6. Sprinkle the top of the rolled log with sesame seeds, then slice the roll into medium-thick rounds (see picture).
7. Arrange the pieces on baking trays and bake for about 10 minutes or until the maqrouta turns golden.
   Timers: 10 min
8. Allow the date maqrouta to cool to room temperature before serving.