Ma'amoul (Semolina Cookies with Walnut or Date Filling)

In a large bowl, mix the semolina, flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar and the baking powder. Pour in the melted butter and rub it in with your fingers until the mixture feels like wet sand. Cover and let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour, or up to overnight, so the semolina soaks up the butter.

• 300g semolina
• 100g flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 200g melted butter

✅ Done when: mixture feels like wet sand and holds together when pressed

For the walnut filling, mix the chopped walnuts with 2 tablespoons of sugar, the cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of orange blossom water (keep the rest for the dough). For the date filling, mash the dates into a smooth paste and roll into small, cherry-sized balls.

• 150g walnuts
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp orange blossom water
• 150g dates

✅ Done when: walnut mixture is evenly coated; date paste holds together without cracking