Kleicha (Iraqi Date-Filled Cookies)
Local name: كليجة
In short: Tender, ghee-rich cookies filled with cardamom and cinnamon date paste and sprinkled with sesame seeds, baked for Eid and served with tea. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 15 servings.
- Prep
- 1 h
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 15
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 305 kcal
Kleicha is the Iraqi cookie baked in huge batches before Eid and offered to every visitor with tea. The dough is soft and rich with ghee and perfumed with cardamom, and it encloses a sticky date filling spiced with cinnamon. The tops are pinched into patterns with tongs and sprinkled with sesame. Families bake them together over a day or two, which fills the house with a warm, buttery smell.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt in a large bowl. Add the melted ghee and sugar and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture feels like damp sand.
- Add the rose water and enough warm milk to bring the dough together. Knead gently for 2 minutes, cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Knead the dates with the ghee, cardamom and cinnamon until you have a smooth paste. Roll into about 30 small balls of 10 g each.
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Take a 30 g piece of dough, flatten it into a disc and set a date ball in the center. Fold the dough around it, seal and flatten gently into a disc about 6 cm (2 1/2 in) wide.
- Pinch a pattern around the edges with tongs or the tines of a fork. Place on the trays, brush with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden underneath and lightly colored on top. Cool on the trays, since the cookies firm up as they cool.
Tips
- Soft dates such as medjool or Iraqi cooking dates make a better filling. If your dates are firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes and drain.
- Some bakers add a spoonful of ground nigella or coriander to the dough. Ground walnuts mixed into the date filling give extra texture.
Questions and answers
How long do kleicha keep?
In an airtight tin they keep for about 2 weeks. They are best the day after baking once the flavors settle.
Can I freeze kleicha?
Yes. Freeze the baked cookies for up to 2 months and thaw at room temperature. You can also freeze the shaped dough and bake from frozen, adding 3 minutes.
Is kleicha only baked for Eid?
It is most associated with Eid, but Iraqis bake it for other celebrations and keep it in the house for guests. It goes well with strong sweet tea.
How long does it take to make Kleicha (Iraqi Date-Filled Cookies)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 1 h of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kleicha (Iraqi Date-Filled Cookies)?
About 305 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 41 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 305 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 15 g |
| Sodium | 65 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
