Date Filling

• Mix dates, oil, sesame seeds, and cinnamon or cardamom to a paste.
• Shape into small balls the size of hazelnuts.

  Nuts Filling

• Mix walnuts or pistachios with sugar and rose water.

  Ma’amoul

• - Place butter and milk in a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil.
• - Mix flour, semolina and sugar in a large bowl.
• - Pour hot milk mixture over flour mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until cool.
• - Add orange blossom water and rub with your fingertips until fully incorporated.
• - Cover with kitchen towel and let set for at least 3 hours (or preferably overnight).
• - Preheat oven to 180˚C (350˚F).
• - Knead dough by hand for 5 minutes until soft and pliable.
• - Shape dough into walnut-size balls. Press thumb into balls to make cups.
• - Fill cups with dates or a generous teaspoon of nut filling.
• - Mold dough over filling, pressing seams to seal.
• - Shape into discs, press into decorated molds, tapping them out onto a work surface.
• - Arrange on a baking sheet, Bake on middle rack of oven for 25 minutes, or until golden.
• - Cool completely.
• - Place dark chocolate chips in a double boiler till it melt, set aside and let cool.
• - Dip Ma’moul in melted chocolate, set on a rack with parchment paper underneath.
• - Sprinkle with powdered sugar (if desired), arrange on a serving plate.