Kleicha – Date Cookies (كليجة)
Last year I made a healthier version of my favourite cookies – Kleicha (كليجة) which are Iraqi date cookies that are traditionally served on Eid (A religious holiday to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan where muslims fast from sun rise to sun set for a whole month). Even though I loved the version I made last year, I wanted to outdo myself by making an even better and healthier version!
I grew up eating Kleicha. It was my favourite sweet treat and definitely my favourite cookie. Date paste spiced with cardamom and cinnamon wrapped in a crumbly pastry, what’s not to love?! These Iraqi date cookies are similar to ma’moul, also date cookies popular throughout Middle Eastern countries but the dough is slightly different. Of course I’m going to be biased and say I think the Iraqi version is so much better!
So to make the dough for last year’s kleicha, I used a mixture of wholemeal flour and spelt flour, which resulted in a dough which was slightly on the bready side. This year, I decided to make a gluten-free version, so I’m using a mixture of ground almonds and rice flour the result of which is much closer to the traditional recipe. I’m so pleased with the way they’ve turned out!
As well as being gluten-free I also made sure these cookies are dairy free so everyone can enjoy them. I used honey to help the dough stick together but they can easily be made vegan by substituting with another form of liquid sweetener like rice syrup or date syrup.
Who’s celebrating Eid this year? And do I have any Iraqi readers?
Eid Mubarak to those of you celebrating xx
- 1 cup (100g) ground almonds
- 1 1/4 cup (140g) rice flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) honey (or other liquid sweetener)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- 2 tbsp milk (any type you prefer)
- 1 cup (140g) dates
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1/4-1/2 cup (4-8 tbsp) water
- Sesame seeds to top
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground almonds, rice flour, salt and spices.
- Add the melted coconut and honey. Mix until well combined
- If the dough is not sticking together and looks crumbly, add milk, 1 tbsp at a time. I found that 2 tbsp of milk was perfect.
- Place in the fridge and leave to chill for 30-60 minutes
- Add the dates, spices and cocoa to a pan and pour in the water - the amount of water will depend on how dry your dates are. I used fairly dry dates so I added around 1/2 cup of water, but I would suggest adding a little at a time. Heat the pan and start mashing the dates with the back of a wooden spoon. Continue adding water until you have a smooth, but still thick and sticky mixture. You want it to be just thin enough to spread.
- Preheat your oven to 180*C (160*C fan assisted)/ 350*F
- Take the dough out of the fridge and place it on a piece of parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top and start rolling out the dough into a ¼" thick rectangle.
- Spread the date filling over the dough leaving the edges clear.
- Now start rolling! Take one side of the dough and use the parchment paper to roll the dough into a log.
- Using a sharp knife, slice into 1 inch thick pieces.
- Carefully transfer the cookies onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
- Bake for around 20 minutes or until the tops of the cookies are golden brown.
- Leave to cool completely, then enjoy!
- I like to store mine in the fridge - they taste so much better in my opinion and the texture is so much better as well 🙂
Comments 48
These look amazing!
Could I use normal or wholewheat flour instead of rice flour as I only need them to be dairy free!
Thanks!
Thank you Megan 😀 You could try plain or wholemeal flour, I haven’t tried it myself but they should work 🙂
So fabulous that these are GF too! How yummy!
Thank you lovely Rebecca 😀
i am looking for kleicha recipe for long
thank you may i buy the kleicha from you ready?
Wow, these look delicious. Not made anything like this before rolled up and I love the idea of them being both gluten and dairy free!
They’re so good Ceri, admittedly not as good as the traditional unhealthier (but not too unhealthy :P) cookies. Dates and cardamom are so perfect for each other!
These look tasty, I don’t think I would be able to eat just one. GF! Dairy Free! Now that’s my kind of cookie!
Thank you Mary 😀 you should see how quick my husband and I go through them 😛 but it’s ok to have two (or five!) because they’re healthy 😛
Mmmm, date cookies for real? Wow, Nadia! These look astoundingly yummy and full of awesome goodness of dates!Loving theses! 🙂
Thank you Anupama 😀 they really are so good, if I do so myself 😛 so happy with the way they turned out!
Oh Nadia, these look and sound so so good! Beautiful images too. Pinning and sharing 🙂
Thank you Kellie 😀 They’re so addictive though 😛
I’ve really come to love dates these last few years! These cookies look fantastic!
I grew up eating and loving dates, it’s my favourite ingredient to use in desserts and baking 🙂
How am I not following you?!?! This is such an adorable recipe that looks so delicious and healthy!
I’ve seen, but never had these! They look amazing! Pinned!
Oh these sound and look very tasty! I like that you’ve made them gluten and dairy free too!
Thanks for linking my cookies!
How fortuitous that I discovered your blog before Eid this week! These look amazing 🙂 Day. Made.
Eid Mubarak!
Yay! So glad you found me 😀 I hope you try making the kleicha, if you do you have to let me know how it goes! Eid Mubarak to you too! 🙂
These sound delicious. My husband loves anything with dates in, so I am going to make some at the weekend.
Same here! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Hey! Nadia, they look amazing! I am gonna try them this eid! I bought all the ingredients. But little confused about whether to put cocoa powder in date and water mixture or in the dry ingredients?please let me know:-) and Eid Mubarak! To you and your family!
Hi Momina 🙂 yay fantastic! The cocoa goes into date mixture, sorry if that wasn’t clear. I’ve amended the post so there is no more confusion 🙂 You’ll have to let me know how it goes! Eid Mubarak to you too and your family 😀
Hey! Nadia!… thank you for answering my question:-).. they are in the oven right now.. the only issue I had was the dough was breaking alot and I dont know how they will turn out because when I rolled it in..it started breaking. Any ideas on how to fix this problem.. I will appreciate it alott:-) I am sure they will taste great! just worried about the shape and cut
Hmm…did you let the dough chill in the fridge? Because there is no eggs in there the dough can be quite fragile but when it’s cold it’s so much easier to handle. How did they turn out?
Turned out the yummiest cookies me and my husband ever had! They were bigger than the ones in the picture but still tasted great! I guess practice
will make it perfect!
Thank you Nadia:-) you are amazing! Posted the picture on instagram
That’s fantastic Momina! I’m so so pleased you and your husband liked them 😀 The first time I made this recipe they didn’t turn out as good so yeah, practice definitely makes perfect 😀
There are beautiful Nadia!I’ve never tired Kleicha before, but they sound amazing. I looove dates, and all of the spices they’re mixed with sound delicious. I can’t believe they’re so healthy too. I definitely need to try these! 🙂
Thank you, Harriet 😀 they’re my favourite cookies ever! 😀 dates and cardamom are the perfect match! Hope you do try them 🙂
These are currently baking in the oven & they smell so good!I’ll let you know how it tastes when the cookies finish cooking. Quick question: do you have an ebook full of Iraqi/ middle eastern cuisine? If not, will you be making one?
Fantastic! How did they turn out? Hope you enjoy them 😀 I don’t have any Middle Eastern ebooks, but you’ve just inspired me to create my own! 😀
These cookies look amazing!!
Thank you Ami 😀
Never tried these before but always thought they sounded SO good. I can’t get enough of Middle Eastern flavours… and in a cookie? Even better!
I am so glad I came across this recipe! My boyfriend used to live in Iraq and he grew up eating these. I think if I make these healthier date cookies he will be very happy! 🙂
Wow, Nadia, I’m so happy to have discovered your blog. Middle Eastern treats have always had a special place in my heart — and these cookies are no exception. They look incredible! ♥
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Oh, I’m so excited to make these. I used to make these for Ramadan and we ate them at iftar (instead of plain dates), but when we moved, it was one recipe that didn’t come with me (I can’t even imagine why! Well, most of our house didn’t come either.) I’m now gluten-free and will be making them tomorrow to get ready for Ramadan. Thank you so much and I look forward to exploring your blog more.
These came out wonderfully! I love cardamom and Middle Eastern desserts. The crumb of the kleicha is delicate and the sweetness just right, a very elegant cookie. I will make these again. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Hi Nadia
I’m also an Iraqi and grew up on kleicha! They are the best!!
I look forward to trying these out!!
Reem x
Thank you Reem 🙂 Kleichas are the best! 😀 you’ll have to come back and let me know what you think of them once you’ve tried them!
Ooo Nadia. I actually have a kulicha recipe on my fridge… but a regular version that I make so hubby feels like he’s at home! ☺ I love your healthy version – it’s one recipe I’d not yet considered making healthy (as it wasn’t something I’d grown up with). Thinking I might go and make these now (Eid’s a bit of a wait)! Thank you!
I am planning to make these for my Iraqi student to celebrate Eid next week. I will let you know if he says they taste anything like what he would have had back home.
Hello!
Can I sub the flour with something else
Like oat flour and chickpea flour??
Author
I haven’t tried oat or chickpea flour to make this recipe so I can’t say for sure if they would work. Different flours behave differently – they absorb different amounts of fluid and give different textures. If you do try either of them let me know how it turns out! 🙂
These are really yummy! I didn’t have rice flour at home so I used Besan flour instead. Yum!!!
Can you leave the dough in the fridge for longer? Or is it bad?