Date-Filled Sesame Cookies

👨‍🍳 Method

To assemble

1. 1
   Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring, until until golden. Set aside.

   ⚙ Dry-Pan ToastingStoveFrying pan

   💡Toast over medium heat and keep things moving: nuts, pine nuts and spices go from toasted to burnt in seconds. Transfer to a plate right away, since the hot pan keeps toasting.
2. 2
   Rub the flour and oil together with your hands, into a crumbly mixture.

   Bowl
3. 3
   Cover and let the dough rest 0.

   ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer

   💡Knead only until the dough comes together: long kneading toughens it, and the maamoul comes out hard instead of crumbly.
4. 4
   Mix the dates by hand into a smooth paste.
5. 5
   Shape the dough into Small 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
   Shape the dough into Small balls, flatten each ball in your palm, place a teaspoon of filling in the center and seal well.
7. 7
   Dip each cookie in toasted the sesame seeds.
8. 8
   Arrange the cookies on the baking sheet.

   Baking pan
9. 9
   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.