Date Fingers (Filled Date Cookies)

Ingredients

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fine semolina (or 'farikha' flour)
• 1 1/2 cups ghee (smen) or clarified butter
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon mahleb
• A small coffee cup of anise (or aniseed)
• Sesame seeds
• Mastic (ground)
• Cake spice mix (dakkat ka'ak)
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon yeast
• 1 cup water (or as needed)
• Filling:
• Pitted dates
• Walnuts
• Ground fennel (shomar)
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• Date fingers method from a friend and cook on ShouTabkhin Today:
• رنا سبيتي بزي
• Click the name to visit her profile page on our site and see all her recipes
• For more date desserts see: Date Cookie Recipe

Method

1. First, mix the fine semolina with the flour, then add the ghee and oil and rub together well.
2. Add the remaining dry ingredients and rub lightly without heavy kneading. Gradually add the water and bring the dough together. Add more water if needed depending on the flour.
3. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
   Timers: 30 min
4. Meanwhile, process the pitted dates with the ghee, ground fennel and a little chopped walnut to make the filling.
5. After 30 minutes, roll the dough thinly between sheets of plastic so it is not too wide. Place the filling lengthwise, roll the dough around it into a log, and cut into pieces of the desired size.
   Timers: 30 min
6. Dip each piece in sesame, then place the date fingers on a baking tray and bake at 180°C (356°F) until cooked (do not over-brown).
7. Serve the date fingers after they cool.