Dessert · Middle Eastern · Snack ·

Lebanese Maamoul Pastry with Date and Nut Filling

Name: Lebanese Maamoul Pastry with Date and Nut Filling
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 3 cups; Semolina, 1 cup; Unsalted butter, 1 cup, softened; Sugar, 1/2 cup; Warm milk, 1/4 cup; Rose water, 1 tbsp; Orange blossom water, 1 tbsp; Pitted dates, 2 cups, finely chopped; Unsalted butter, 2 tbsp; Ground cinnamon, 1 tsp; Orange blossom water, 1 tsp; Walnuts, 1 cup, finely chopped; Sugar, 1/4 cup; Rose water, 2 tbsp

Discover the charm of Maamoul, a beloved Lebanese pastry that's a hit during festive occasions and perfect with your afternoon tea. These buttery, rich cookies encase a deliciously sweet date and nut

4.5(822 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 10, 2025

Lebanese Maamoul Pastry with Date and Nut Filling — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Dough

For the Date Filling

For the Nut Filling

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 261 kcal
Protein: 3.75 g
Carbs: 35.75 g
Fat: 12.13 g
Fiber: 2.17 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 6253 kcal
Protein: 90 g
Carbs: 858 g
Fat: 291 g
Fiber: 52 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
All-purpose flour 3 cups	1365	39	282	3	12
Semolina 1 cup	602	21	121	2	7
Unsalted butter 1 cup, softened	1628	2	0	184	0
Sugar 1/2 cup	387	0	100	0	0
Warm milk 1/4 cup	30	2	3	1	0
Rose water 1 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0
Orange blossom water 1 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0
Pitted dates 2 cups, finely chopped	1072	8	284	0	24
Unsalted butter 2 tbsp	204	0	0	23	0
Ground cinnamon 1 tsp	6	0	2	0	1
Orange blossom water 1 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Walnuts 1 cup, finely chopped	765	18	16	78	8
Sugar 1/4 cup	194	0	50	0	0
Rose water 2 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Dough

1
Combine dry ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the flour, semolina, and sugar.
2
Add butter
Add the softened butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3
Form the dough
Gradually add in the milk, rose water, and orange blossom water, kneading gently to form a soft dough.
4
Rest the dough
Cover and let the dough rest for 2 hours.
Tip: Allow the dough to rest for the full time to ensure a soft, workable texture.

Preparing the Fillings

1
Make date filling
Melt butter in a pan over low heat, stir in dates, cinnamon, and orange blossom water. Cook until dates are soft and blended.
2
Make nut filling
Mix chopped walnuts with sugar and rose water until well combined.
Tip: Ensure the fillings and dough are cool to handle before shaping.

How to Make Lebanese Maamoul Pastry with Date and Nut Filling

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Shaping the Cookies
Pinch a small piece of dough and flatten it in your palm. Place either date or nut filling in the center, fold over and seal edges.
2
Stamping the Cookies
Press each filled dough ball into a maamoul mold to shape and imprint. Gently tap out onto a baking sheet.
3
Baking the Cookies
Place filled cookies on a lined baking tray. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 min until light golden.