Maamoul (semolina date cookies)

Instructions

1. Mix the semolina, flour, icing sugar and salt. Rub in the softened butter with your fingertips until the texture is sandy.
2. Add the milk and orange blossom water, then knead into a soft dough. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, blend the dates with the cinnamon and walnuts to a smooth filling. Roll it into small balls.
4. Take a piece of dough the size of a walnut, hollow it out with your thumb, place a ball of filling in the centre and close it into a sphere.
5. Press the ball into a floured wooden mould to imprint the pattern, then gently release it onto a tray.
6. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cookies stay very pale, without browning.
7. Let them cool completely before handling; they firm up as they dry.