Ka’ak El Eid! {Festive Date Filled Cookie Rings}

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and although this might come across as strange that I actually truly love the whole aspect of Ramadan and everything it encompasses (yes, including the long hours of fasting), the truth is I along with many others look forward to this month every year and are somewhat saddened to see it end so quickly.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and take part in charitable and other pious activities. It’s also a time of self-awareness and self-reflection, and a chance to start over and make amends with those you may have wronged in the previous year (or forgive those who may have wronged you). It’s a very peaceful month and to see it go so quickly is bittersweet to say the least.

However, with every beginning there is an end, and for Ramadan, it’s Eid Al-Fitr or the Festival of Fast-Breaking!

Eid Al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawal, the month that follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world take part in the celebrations by giving to those in need, handing out presents to children, and visiting family and friends. New clothes are usually purchased and saved for this day or your best clothes are cleaned and are ready to wear on Eid day and the kids can’t wait to open their presents and spend time with those they love.

A few days before Eid, Muslims donate a determined amount to the needy so that everyone is given the opportunity to celebrate. It is truly a beautiful time of year.

With that comes food of course! And one of the things that people look forward to eating is sweets (anytime really we just need an excuse!)

Among the arabic sweets is Ka’ak El Eid, or Festive Cookies. They’re prepared in batches and the sheer smell of one of these cookies will have you packing on a few pounds for sure… I speak from experience. Some are filled with dates and others are made with no filling at all. I’m always fishing for the ones that are filled with dates because I personally can’t justify eating what is essentially sweet bread without anything in it! Can’t do it.

This year, I decided I’d make my own batch of Vegan Date Cookie Rings to hand out to family and friends. Regular Ka’ak have butter and milk in them…some even put eggs. This is the third time I make them so I’ve had the chance to tweak the recipe quite a bit to get it exactly how I like it. Traditionally, these sweets are very crispy, but I prefer mine somewhat softer, and loaded with dates.

My cookies are not only vegan, but dare I say healthier, so delicious, with a slightly crispy yet airy outer layer, and a soft chewy date filled inside, I promise you will love the entire process of making them. It’s labour intensive but well worth every sweat bead (although you won’t be sweating because I wouldn’t want to do that to you) ;)

Instructions

1. Using a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and mix very well using your hands or a whisk.

2. Add vegan spread and using your hands, work it into the dry ingredients until you get a soft almost crumbly dough.

3. Next, add spices and mix well until incorporated.

4. Then, warm coconut milk over the stove being careful not to get it too hot. You want it to be tolerable to the touch for a few seconds. Add orange blossom water and stir.

5. Add warmed milk to bowl and stir using your hands until dough is formed.

6. Cover bowl with Saran wrap and put a towel over it to allow the dough to proof (rise). Leave for at least 1 hour.

While the dough is proofing, prepare the dates.

7. In a bowl, place the Parnoosh dates and massage them into a paste using your hands.

Continue to massage until all dates are fully mushed into a paste.

Tip: Parnoosh dates are best for this recipe because they’re so soft and perfect to work with. You don’t need to add butter or any other fat to get them to soften.

8. Then, take about a tablespoon worth of date paste, roll into a ball first and then into logs as shown. This helps make the cookie assembling faster and easier. Logs should be about 3 to 4 inches long. Set aside until ready to fill.

Note: logs don’t need to be exact length or width. Try to get them as uniform as possible so that your cookies come out evenly sized. But it doesn’t matter whether you have smaller or larger cookies, the important thing is the taste.

To make the Cookies:

9 (a) Remove dough from bowl and place on a clean work surface. Using your hands, knead dough well and roll it into a log.

9 (b)  Then, either cut small 1 inch pieces using a knife, a spoon, or pinch with your hand.

10. Working with each dough ball, spread into a rectangle and add one log. Fold dough over date log and gently roll together to form a log. Cut excess dough that has no filling in it and reuse with other remnants to form more balls.

Tip: If you find you’ve rolled a rather large date filled log, just roll it further to thin it out and cut the log in half to make two.

11. Fold the ends on top of each other as shown. Pinch ends together to seal. Place on a prepared baking pan with parchment paper.

Continue steps 10 and 11 until all dough is used and rings are formed.

Tip: If you end up with extra date logs, put them in a container in the fridge to be used another time or eat them as is like my kids love doing. They should keep for a while in the fridge.

Allow cookies to rest for 20 minutes before placing in the oven.

While the cookies are resting, preheat the oven to 350F.

12. Place pan in the oven to bake for 15 minutes, until bottom of cookies are golden in colour. Then, switch baking setting to Low Broil and let cookies broil until dark golden in colour, 1 minute or so.

Tip: be careful not to leave the area. Monitor the cookies to ensure they don’t burn.

Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool slightly on a wire rack before enjoying.

Biting into one of these cookies is heaven. You’ll know what I mean once you make them for yourself. My measure of whether my recipe is a success or not is heavily dependant on whether my kids devour them. I’m happy to report that I’ve received four little thumbs up!

These cookies make a great gift to give to family, friends, and neighbours. They will certainly appreciate the thoughtful gesture and more importantly, the taste. :)  Hope you enjoy them as much as my family does.

To everyone observing the month of Ramadan, have a blessed last few days and an early Eid Mubarak/Happy Eid to you!

Bon appétit! xo