Palestinian Kahk Cookies (Print Version)

Buttery dough wrapped around spiced date filling, rolled in sesame seeds, a fragrant Middle Eastern delight.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
04 - 1/4 cup milk, plus additional as needed
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Filling

08 - 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)

→ Coating

12 - 1/2 cup untoasted sesame seeds

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Add vanilla extract, then gradually blend in flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add milk one tablespoon at a time, kneading gently until dough is soft and pliable. Cover and let rest.
05 - Combine chopped dates and butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously until dates soften into a paste. Mix in cinnamon and cardamom. Allow to cool.
06 - Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disk shape.
07 - Place 1 teaspoon of date filling in the center of each disk. Fold dough over filling, pinch to seal, then gently roll into a ball.
08 - Roll each filled dough ball in sesame seeds, pressing lightly to adhere.
09 - Arrange cookies on prepared sheet. Flatten each gently with a fork or mold to make patterns if desired.
10 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until bottoms turn golden and tops remain pale.
11 - Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before serving or storage.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're buttery and tender in a way that makes people pause mid-conversation to ask for the recipe.
  • The date filling is naturally sweet and fragrant—no refined sugar needed inside.
  • You can make the whole batch in about an hour, which feels generous for something this special.
02 -
  • Don't overbake these—the pale tops are intentional, and a few extra minutes will dry them out beyond repair.
  • If your date filling is too thick to work with, it won't distribute evenly in the dough, so make sure it's soft enough to hold a spoon shape.
  • The sesame seeds need to actually stick, so don't skip the pressing step when you create the fork pattern.
03 -
  • If you don't have cardamom, the cookies are still wonderful without it—cinnamon alone is the real star.
  • A cookie mold or fork pattern isn't just decoration; it helps the cookies bake evenly by creating slight indentations that let heat penetrate uniformly.
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