Kleicha - Iraqi Date Cookies – Vegan version

👨‍🍳 Method

To assemble

1. 1
   Sift the flour into a bowl, add the sugar and margarine and rub with your fingertips into a crumbly mixture.

   SifterBowl
2. 2
   Cover and let the dough rest 30 minutes.

   ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer

   💡Knead only until the dough comes together: long kneading toughens it, and the maamoul comes out hard instead of crumbly.
3. 3
   Wrap the dough and chill it in the fridge 30 minutes.

   Plastic wrapRefrigerator
4. 4
   Melt the margarine in a pan, add the dates, cinnamon and cardamom and cook for 3 minutes, stirring, into a smooth mixture. Let cool.

   Frying panStove
5. 5
   Shape the dough into walnut-size balls, flatten each ball in your palm, place a teaspoon of filling in the center and seal well.

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
6. 6
   Fill each round with a teaspoon of the filling, fold into a half-moon and press the edges firmly.

   ⚙ Rolling Out DoughRolling pinCookie cutter

   💡Roll from the center outward and give the dough a quarter turn between rolls: this keeps it even in thickness and stops it sticking to the counter. If it springs back, cover for 10–15 minutes and try again.
7. 7
   Fill each round with a teaspoon of the filling, fold into a half-moon and press the edges firmly.
8. 8
   Arrange the cookies on the baking sheet.

   Baking pan
9. 9
   Brush the cookies with the beaten flax egg.

   Pastry brush
10. 10
    Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
11. 11
    Let cool completely, and only then dust with the powdered sugar.

    ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

    💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.