Date cookies (Menena)

Ingredients

• ¾ pound pitted dates
• ½ pound sweet butter or margarine, softened
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups flour, sifted
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon orange flower water
• Confectioners’ sugar

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (16 servings)

    225 calories; 11 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 29 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 16 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 30 milligrams cholesterol; 2 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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16 cookies

Preparation

1. Soak dates in cold water for 2 hours. Drain, pat dry on paper towels, then chop fine in food processor.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil.
3. Cream butter or margarine in food processor or electric mixer or by hand until fluffly. Add sugar and mix until incorporated. Add flour gradually, then water and orange flower water. Mixture should be very soft but not sticky.
4. Roll lumps of dough into little balls, hollowing out as you go to make room for the filling. Stuff each with a little of date mixture, less than teaspoon. Seal opening gently with fingers and shape into round, flattened dumpling 2 inches in diameter. Gently indent tops of each with tines of fork and arrange cookies on prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool, then dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve.

1 hour, plus 2 hours' soaking