Kleija (Saudi Spiced Date Cookies)
Kleija are traditional Saudi pastries, particularly popular in the Najd region. These spiced date cookies feature a rich dough made from wheat flour, sugar, milk, and ghee, filled with a sweet and savory mixture of dates, black lemon, sesame seeds, and warm spices like cardamom and cinnamon.
🧂 Ingredients
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup Sugar
- 2 tbsp Milk powder
- 0.5 cup Ghee(melted)
- 1 tsp Yeast(active dry)
- 0.75 cup Warm water
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Dates(pitted and finely chopped)
- 1 tsp Cardamom(ground)
- 0.5 tsp Cinnamon(ground)
- 1 tbsp Sesame seeds(toasted)
- 0.5 tsp Black lemon powder
- 1 large Egg yolk(for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp Milk(for egg wash)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, milk powder, and salt. Add the melted ghee and the foamy yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- 3
Cover the dough and let it rest in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- 4
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling by combining the chopped dates, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, toasted sesame seeds, and black lemon powder in a bowl. Mix well.
- 5
Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 24 equal portions. Roll each portion into a thin circle.
- 6
Place about 1 tablespoon of the date filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal. You can shape them into rounds or ovals, and use a fork to create a decorative pattern on top.
- 7
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 8
Whisk together the egg yolk and milk for the egg wash. Brush the tops of the kleija with the egg wash.
- 9
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the dates are soft and pliable for easy mixing. If they are dry, soak them in warm water for a few minutes before chopping.
- ✓Don't overfill the cookies, as this can cause them to burst during baking.
- ✓Black lemon powder adds a unique tangy flavor; if unavailable, a tiny pinch of citric acid can be a substitute.
🔄 Variations
- Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pistachios to the date filling.
- For a different flavor profile, use a filling of spiced nuts instead of dates.