Name: Middle Eastern Date Treats
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 80 min
Cuisine: Iraqi
Ingredients: 1 cup crushed almonds.; 1 1/4 cups rice flour.; 1 tsp salt.; 1/4 tsp cinnamon.; 1/4 tsp cardamom powder.; 1/3 cup (80ml) melted coconut oil.; 1/3 cup (80ml) any milk alternative.; 250g pitted soft dates.; 1/2 cup (120ml) water.; 1 tsp cinnamon.; 1 tsp cardamom.; Tiny bit of salt.; Sesame seeds for sprinkling.

Three piled sweet rolled date pieces wrapped in light, coarse sugar shown with a blurry background. | emilyscooks.com

Bring a taste of Iraq right to your home with Kleicha. These cookies stuffed with dates have got nice spices and natural sweetness that's just right when you're having tea.

What You'll Need

2 cups ground almonds for the base
1 cup dates for the center
A pinch each of cardamom cinnamon
Maple syrup if you want it sweeter
Sesame seeds on top

Easy Steps

Prepare Dough: Combine spices with almonds to create dough
Fill It Up: Layer date mixture roll into log shape
Cut And Bake: Slice into pieces bake until golden color

Helpful Hints

Cool the dough when it gets too soft. Put logs in freezer for easier cutting. Use a very sharp knife for clean edges.

A plate of sweet, rolled desserts filled with a dark jam-like center, topped with sesame seeds, surrounded by a cozy, softly lit setting. | emilyscooks.com

Keeping Fresh

Store in sealed container in your fridge. These make wonderful gifts for special events.

Try Variations

Throw in some nuts with the filling. Switch to apricots or figs. Add some honey or maple if you want.

Great With

Enjoy alongside coffee or spiced tea. Get the full Middle Eastern vibe.

Good For You

Dates give you fiber. Almonds provide good fats. Zero refined sugars here.

A plate of rolled sweets with a sweet filling and sprinkled sesame seeds, set against a dark background with decorative elements. | emilyscooks.com

Easy Rolling

Grab some parchment paper to help. Roll it slow and steady. This stops gaps in your filling.

Changing Sweetness

Mix in honey or maple syrup. Sprinkle some powdered sugar. Make it just as sweet as you like.

No Nuts Version

Swap out almonds for oat flour. Keeps everything nice and soft.

Zesty Twist

Grate in some lemon or orange peel. Makes the flavors pop.

Make Ahead

Keep logs in freezer up to three months. Cut and bake whenever you want some.

A stack of three halved, sesame-coated snacks revealing a dark, sweet filling inside. | emilyscooks.com

Special Occasion Treat

Great for Christmas or Eid celebrations. The spiral pattern looks so pretty.

New Fillings

Give chocolate apple mix or nuts a go. Old cookie gets new life.

Kid Friendly

Let the little ones stir shape and roll. Makes fun memories in the kitchen.

Drink Matches

Goes well with Riesling or Muscat. Makes a fancy after dinner combo.

Rich History

Connects to Iraqi cooking roots. Passes down family customs.

A plate of rolled sweets filled with a dark fruit paste and coated in finely ground nuts, garnished with sesame seeds, set against a dark background. | emilyscooks.com

Common Questions

→ Can I use regular flour instead of rice flour?: Absolutely, wholemeal spelt flour works great as the recipe mentions. Plain all-purpose flour is fine too if you don't need gluten-free treats.
→ Why chill the dough?: Chilling makes the coconut oil harden and helps you work with the dough better. You can skip this part if your dough already feels firm enough.
→ Can I use different nuts?: You can swap ground almonds for other crushed nuts like walnuts or pistachios, but this will give you a different taste than the original.
→ How long do these keep?: They'll stay good for up to 2 weeks when kept in a sealed container in the fridge. They actually taste even better after sitting for a day or two.
→ Can I freeze these cookies?: They freeze really well for up to 3 months. Just let them thaw in your fridge overnight before you want to eat them.

Delightful Kleicha Cookies