Kleicha (Traditional Chaldean Christmas Cookie)

Updated at: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:59:13 GMT

Step 1

Add packet of yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar to ½ cup warm water. Stir to dissolve. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. It should be foamy on top after 10 minutes.

Step 2

Mix your dry ingredients. Add melted butter and mix. Add the yeast mixture and mix. Begin to knead the dough. Slowly add milk so dough is pliable and not sticky. You may not use all of your milk. If you feel you have added too much milk and the dough is sticky, sprinkle a little flour until it is not sticky. Knead for 10 minutes. Place your dough in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place a blanket over the bowl. Allow to rest for 1 – 3 hours or until it is doubled in size. While you are waiting for your dough, start preparing your fillings.

Step 3

Date Filling: Heat your choice of oil in a pan over medium low heat. Once hot: add date paste, cinnamon, cardamom, and sesame seeds. Mix until softened and are blended well.

Step 4

Nut Filling: Chop your walnuts until fine; add sugar, cardamom, and rose water. Mix well.

Step 5

Once dough has risen, preheat oven to 350° F

Step 6

Preparing Date Cookies: Once your dough has risen, separate it into 4 balls. Take one to use and leave the other 3 in the bowl covered. Cut your dough ball in half and roll out until it is about 1/8 inch. Trim into a rectangular piece about 10 by 7 inches. Place half of your date paste on parchment paper, add another piece of parchment paper on top and roll with rolling pin until it is about as thin as you can get it. Trim into a piece that matches the size of your dough. Take the top layer of parchment paper off of date mix. Carry the date paste using the bottom piece of parchment paper and flip the date paste over the dough. If some of your dough is not covered by the date paste, patch where necessary. Starting at the long end, roll the dough. Press the end of the roll to seal. Place the end side down and gently go over the roll with a rolling pin so it is about half the height it was. Cut the roll into triangular or rectangular pieces. I used a crinkle cutter knife for mine to give the edges a nice touch. Take the other half of the dough and repeat the process.

Step 7

Preparing Nut Cookies: Take a piece of the dough and roll out to about 1/8 inch thickness. Using a cup or cookie cutter with about a 2 ½ diameter, cut out circle shapes. Take a circular piece and press between forefinger and thumbs of both hands and rotate to gently thin out and stretch dough. Place about 1 teaspoon of the nut mixture in the middle. Fold in half and pinch the ends together to seal, making sure there are no nuts where you are pressing. Starting at one end, fold the pinched part and press down and repeat and continue to the other end. Repeat process until all of your dough is done.

Step 8

Brush cookies with egg wash, put in oven at 350 degrees F for 18 to 20 minutes or until browned.

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