What is kleicha made of?

It is made with yeasted dough that has been enriched with spices, such as cardamom and cinnamon, and filled with a mixture of either date, sugar, or honey molasses and spices, typically cardamom, but also black dried lime, cinnamon, and ginger.

How to make assyrian klecha?

Instructions Mix the yeast into ½ cup of warm water and sprinkle with ½ tbsp sugar. ... Combine flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. ... Work in milk and yeast mixture. Add the beaten eggs and knead by hand, until the dough is soft and smooth (approximately 10 minutes). ... Preheat the oven to 180°C. More items... Jun 21, 2021

Is date paste the same as date sugar?

Date paste is pitted and puréed dates best used for raw treats, smoothies and as a binder & sweetener in baked goods. Date sugar is dried, crushed up dates . Perfect for substituting white sugar in recipes 1:1, decreasing dry ingredients called by 25%.

Kulicha, also known as Kleicha, is a traditional Southern Kurdish dessert and sometimes considered the national cookie of Iraq.

What is famous Assyrian food?

Other traditional Assyrian specialities include tepsi (a casserole made in layers of fried potato, fried eggplant, fried green peppers, fried onions, meat, and tomatoes drenched in a tomato sauce and baked in the oven, not unlike the Levantine version of moussaka), shamakhshi (fried rolled eggplant stuffed with ground ...

What are two things that the Assyrians are known for?

Famous for their cruelty and fighting prowess, the Assyrians were also monumental builders, as shown by archaeological sites at Nineveh, Ashur, and Nimrūd.

Where are Assyrians native to?

Assyrian, member of an ethnic group primarily in parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey that traces its roots to the Assyrian Empire, which ruled parts of the ancient Middle East variously from the 14th century bce to the 7th century bce.

Is kleicha the same as Maamoul?

Unlike maamoul, its more famous cookie cousin from the Levant, kleciha dough does not contain semolina . It can also be stuffed with fragrant nut-sugar mixtures such as walnut, sugar and cardamom or even coconut and sugar.

What is butter biscuit made of?

Butter biscuits are sweetened biscuits made with a basic mixture of refined flour, powdered sugar and fat (preferably clarified butter or ghee) . They may be flavoured with cardamom powder, and are shaped into small rounds and baked till crisp and pale brown in colour.

What is cookies biscuit made of?

The main ingredients for biscuit making are flours, sugars and fats . To these ingredients, various small ingredients may be added for leavening, flavour and texture. The principle ingredient of biscuits is wheat flour. Wheat flour contains proteins including gliadin and glutenin.

Al-Kleja is a Saudi Arabian cookie typical of the Al-Qassim Province but also of the Hail Province.

Kleicha - Date Cookies (كليجة) (2024)

A traditional Iraqi crumbly dough swirl filled with dates – these kleicha date cookies are packed with flavour and are the perfect accompaniment to your cup of tea!

I grew up eating Kleicha. They were (and still are) my favourite sweet treats and definitely my favourite type of 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 countriesbut the dough is slightly different. Please don’t come at me for saying this, but of course I’m going to be biased and say I think the Iraqi version is so much better.

Traditionally, kleicha is made of white flour, butter and yeast, but I made mine healthier and gluten-free by using a mixture of ground almonds and rice flour (or you can use spelt flour, but they won’t be gluten-free). My version also has no added sugar in the dough or the filling! The dates are sweet enough that I didn’t feel the need to add any extra sugar. I also used coconut oil instead of butter to make the recipe dairy-free and vegan.

If you’ve never tired these Iraqi cookies before, you need to give them ago. They’re great if you want a healthier dessert that’s so tasty and sweet without needing to add any sugar. There’s also a fair bit of fibre in there from the dates and healthy fats from the almonds.

Kleicha – Date Cookies (كليجة)

Makes – 25-30

Ingredients

For the dough
1 cup (100g) ground almonds
1 1/4 cup (140g) rice flour (or you can use wholemeal spelt flour)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
80ml (1/3 cup/5 tbsp) coconut oil, melted
80ml (1/3 cup/5 tbsp) milk of choice

For the date filling
250g soft dates
120ml (1/2 cup) water + more if needed
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
Pinch of salt
Sesame seeds to top

Method
Preheat your oven to 180C/160C fan/ 350F
Start by making the filling – add the dates and water to a pan and cook over a low/medium heat whilst 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
In a large bowl, mix together the ground almonds, rice flour, salt and spices.
Add the melted coconut and milk and mix to form a dough*
Divide the dough in half, and roll out between 2 pieces of baking paper into a rectangle (28cmx18cm), then 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.
Freeze the logs for 30 minutes to make them easier to slice.
Using a sharp knife, slice into 1/2 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 are golden brown.
Leave to cool completely, then enjoy!

Notes
* If the dough is too soft, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to make it easier to roll
** 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 ?

Nadia2022-08-05T11:35:03+01:00July 14, 2015|Cookies, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Sweet Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian|84 Comments

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84 Comments

Megan PalmerJuly 14, 2015 at 11:51 am - Reply
These look amazing!
Could I use normal or wholewheat flour instead of rice flour as I only need them to be dairy free!
Thanks!
- NadiaJuly 14, 2015 at 3:41 pm - Reply
  Thank you Megan 😀 You could try plain or wholemeal flour, I haven’t tried it myself but they should work 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and SunshineJuly 14, 2015 at 4:12 pm - Reply
So fabulous that these are GF too! How yummy!
- NadiaJuly 14, 2015 at 4:31 pm - Reply
  Thank you lovely Rebecca 😀
  - henri sayeghJuly 11, 2016 at 1:20 am - Reply
    i am looking for kleicha recipe for long
    thank you may i buy the kleicha from you ready?
CeriJuly 14, 2015 at 4:39 pm - Reply
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!
- NadiaJuly 15, 2015 at 1:39 am - Reply
  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!
MaryJuly 14, 2015 at 9:55 pm - Reply
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!
- NadiaJuly 15, 2015 at 1:40 am - Reply
  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 😛
Anu-My Ginger Garlic KitchenJuly 14, 2015 at 10:03 pm - Reply
Mmmm, date cookies for real? Wow, Nadia! These look astoundingly yummy and full of awesome goodness of dates!Loving theses! 🙂
- NadiaJuly 15, 2015 at 1:41 am - Reply
  Thank you Anupama 😀 they really are so good, if I do so myself 😛 so happy with the way they turned out!
kellie@foodtoglowJuly 15, 2015 at 12:37 am - Reply
Oh Nadia, these look and sound so so good! Beautiful images too. Pinning and sharing 🙂
- NadiaJuly 15, 2015 at 1:43 am - Reply
  Thank you Kellie 😀 They’re so addictive though 😛
AshleyJuly 15, 2015 at 1:26 am - Reply
I’ve really come to love dates these last few years! These cookies look fantastic!
- NadiaJuly 15, 2015 at 1:44 am - Reply
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  I grew up eating and loving dates, it’s my favourite ingredient to use in desserts and baking 🙂
Cassie TranJuly 15, 2015 at 2:16 am - Reply
How am I not following you?!?! This is such an adorable recipe that looks so delicious and healthy!
MiraJuly 15, 2015 at 3:32 am - Reply
I’ve seen, but never had these! They look amazing! Pinned!
Sus @ roughmeasures.comJuly 15, 2015 at 10:41 am - Reply
Oh these sound and look very tasty! I like that you’ve made them gluten and dairy free too!
Thanks for linking my cookies!
DenaJuly 15, 2015 at 11:03 am - Reply
How fortuitous that I discovered your blog before Eid this week! These look amazing 🙂 Day. Made.
Eid Mubarak!
- NadiaJuly 15, 2015 at 11:57 pm - Reply
  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! 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy HappyJuly 15, 2015 at 11:04 am - Reply
These sound delicious. My husband loves anything with dates in, so I am going to make some at the weekend.
- NadiaJuly 16, 2015 at 2:46 am - Reply
  Same here! Let me know how it goes 🙂
MominaJuly 15, 2015 at 8:01 pm - Reply
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!
- NadiaJuly 16, 2015 at 12:09 am - Reply
  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 😀
  - MominaJuly 16, 2015 at 7:03 pm - Reply
    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
    - NadiaJuly 16, 2015 at 11:23 pm - Reply
      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?
      - MominaJuly 18, 2015 at 3:36 pm
        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
      - NadiaJuly 18, 2015 at 6:55 pm
        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 😀
Harriet EmilyJuly 16, 2015 at 3:46 pm - Reply
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! 🙂
- NadiaJuly 16, 2015 at 11:52 pm - Reply
  Thank you, Harriet 😀 they’re my favourite cookies ever! 😀 dates and cardamom are the perfect match! Hope you do try them 🙂
MedhaJuly 16, 2015 at 8:06 pm - Reply
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?
- NadiaJuly 16, 2015 at 11:25 pm - Reply
  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! 😀
Ami@NaiveCookCooksJuly 17, 2015 at 12:13 am - Reply
These cookies look amazing!!
- NadiaJuly 17, 2015 at 11:48 pm - Reply
  Thank you Ami 😀
Aimee / Wallflower GirlJuly 20, 2015 at 8:53 pm - Reply
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!
PetraJuly 23, 2015 at 1:55 pm - Reply
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! 🙂
Audrey @ Unconventional BakerJuly 23, 2015 at 8:57 pm - Reply
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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AprilJune 5, 2016 at 3:38 am - Reply
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.
ElviraJuly 9, 2016 at 3:20 am - Reply
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.
Reem GhannamNovember 29, 2016 at 8:52 pm - Reply
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
- NadiaNovember 30, 2016 at 10:13 pm - Reply
  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!
Life Diet HealthMarch 6, 2017 at 11:57 am - Reply
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!
carolineJune 20, 2017 at 9:17 am - Reply
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.
SarahJune 25, 2017 at 1:38 am - Reply
Hello!
Can I sub the flour with something else
Like oat flour and chickpea flour??
- NadiaJune 27, 2017 at 1:39 pm - Reply
  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! 🙂
MiaFebruary 16, 2018 at 1:38 am - Reply
These are really yummy! I didn’t have rice flour at home so I used Besan flour instead. Yum!!!
RowynApril 4, 2018 at 1:59 pm - Reply
Can you leave the dough in the fridge for longer? Or is it bad?
YaaraSeptember 12, 2018 at 4:34 pm - Reply
Hi
Thank you for a great recipe! I have always loved and baked date cookies and since I moved to gluten free these are the cookies that I miss the most. I made these and they turned out to be really good. Straight from the fridge like you suggested. I wanted to ask if you ever tried to bake them in one piece and cut after. This is what I usually do with regular flour.
Thanks
DeeOctober 11, 2018 at 7:08 pm - Reply
These came out GREAT! we finished the batch way too quickly and I’m about to make another!
- NadiaOctober 12, 2018 at 11:39 am - Reply
  So glad you liked them, Dee 😀 Kleicha never lasts in my house either ? x
DeeFebruary 8, 2019 at 5:01 am - Reply
Hi! I love these soooo much.
Just one thing- I follow your instructions to a T and roll them like u said but I never get 18… Any idea why? I’m completely baffled….
Thanks!
Karen AleksanianFebruary 21, 2019 at 8:47 pm - Reply
I like your recipes.
- NadiaFebruary 23, 2019 at 4:33 pm - Reply
  Thank you 😀
BrigitteJune 3, 2019 at 12:37 pm - Reply
I followed the recipe and it turned out GREAT and so yummy!
Thanks for the recipe, it’s a new family favourite.
- NadiaJune 4, 2019 at 11:38 am - Reply
  So glad you and your family enjoyed them Brigitte 😀 Thank you for your feedback! xx
MariaJuly 15, 2020 at 4:38 pm - Reply
Just made these cookies, the taste is amazing. Love that it is gluten free and refined sugar free. Very easy to make. Thank you so much for this recipe!
- NadiaJuly 20, 2020 at 8:06 pm - Reply
  So glad you enjoyed them Maria 😀 x
MaramJuly 30, 2020 at 3:17 pm - Reply
Can I use gluten free blend or oats instead of the almonds and rice flour? I’m
- NadiaAugust 1, 2020 at 11:37 am - Reply
  I haven’t tried ground oats for this recipe, but it might work. I’ll have to give it a go and get back to you 🙂
LouisaJanuary 26, 2021 at 11:05 pm - Reply
Still making these in 2021.
Love them! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
- NadiaJanuary 27, 2021 at 11:46 am - Reply
  Aw so glad you’re still enjoying them, Louisa 😀 xx
AishaApril 20, 2021 at 8:05 am - Reply
Hello Nadia! thank you for sharing this great recipe. Can’t wait to make it for Eid. Kindly share if it’s ok to use white rice flour or does it have to be brown rice flour (as you shared the product link)?
Hope to hear from you soon.
- NadiaApril 21, 2021 at 11:41 am - Reply
  Hi Aisha 🙂 white rice flour would work just as well! Brown rice flour is what I had at the time. Let me know if you try them 😀 x
LilaJune 24, 2021 at 2:55 pm - Reply
These were so delicious and easy. I even ate one before it was baked and it was amazing. I subbed hazelnuts for almonds. I would love to try it with a dried fig filling next time.
- NadiaJune 25, 2021 at 11:40 am - Reply
  You know, they would actually make a really nice no-bake recipe too chilled in the fridge! Must try it next time. And yes, figs would work beautifully too ? Thanks for your feedback Lila x
YahayaAugust 2, 2021 at 6:17 pm - Reply
How can I get this products please?
- NadiaAugust 3, 2021 at 11:02 am - Reply
  Hi Yahaya – I don’t sell these unfortunately. I only provide the recipes for you to make at home 🙂
danaSeptember 6, 2021 at 8:08 pm - Reply
Thanks for this lovely recipe. I made them in a ma’amoul mold and they were perfect 🙂
- NadiaSeptember 8, 2021 at 11:10 am - Reply
  So glad you enjoyed them 😀 I need to try them in moulds next time!
SafDecember 15, 2021 at 9:01 am - Reply
Omg dairy free and gluten free Kletcha!!!! I can’t wait to make this. As a vegan Iraqi I’ve been gracing kletcha for such a long time. Thank you for this amazing recipe
- NadiaDecember 16, 2021 at 11:36 am - Reply
  So glad you found my recipe Saf 😀 Let me know if you try them!
AgaMay 11, 2022 at 1:15 am - Reply
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT ❤️❤️ Quick and easy to make. One day and they are gone ??. I truly recommend it. Absolute staple in my kitchen.
- NadiaMay 11, 2022 at 11:36 am - Reply
  Aw I’m so glad you enjoyed them Aga 😀 Thank you for your feedback! xx
Janie ReadJuly 11, 2022 at 4:47 am - Reply
Cannot wait to try these always looking for a way to use Cardamom. Look delicious love no added sugar! Thank you for sharing this recipe
AvaSeptember 18, 2022 at 11:08 pm - Reply
Please clarify amount of almonds as 1 cup is not 100 grams ?
- NadiaSeptember 19, 2022 at 12:51 pm - Reply
  Hi Ava 🙂 I’m using 1 cup of ground almonds (not almond flour), which is 100g.
SusanFebruary 16, 2023 at 12:01 am - Reply
I just made these today, and they turned out great!! The Pinterest post shows cocoa powder on the ingredient list, but I didn’t see it here on your page so didn’t include it. Should I have? They’re still fabulous even without it, but guess I should try it? Also, I found it difficult to roll the dough up tightly, so mine don’t look as pretty as yours, but again- taste so good! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!
- NadiaFebruary 17, 2023 at 4:11 pm - Reply
  Hi Susan 🙂 So glad you enjoyed them! I sometimes add cocoa to the mix, but it’s not traditionally used so I decided to remove it from the recipe. You can try adding a tbsp next time if you like, but it’s not essential!
MichelleMarch 25, 2023 at 6:16 pm - Reply
Subbed melted butter for the coconut oil but it wasn’t a successful substitute :'( The dough was very crumbly and broke apart when cutting slices from the roll. There were white spots on the logs (solidified butter, probably) so I may have had an issue in the mixing stage. Might try again after getting coco oil!
DarrylApril 8, 2023 at 11:25 am - Reply
I only had liquid coconut oil and they came out a bit crumbly. I definitely couldn’t roll them as thin as you. I’ll have to get some of the solid type.
FiSeptember 16, 2023 at 9:53 pm - Reply
These are delicious – thank you. I didn’t have rice flour, so went to use spelt flour, but by mistake I used the wrong packet and so my ones were made with buckwheat flour and ground almonds, instead. They were really good, tho’, and also gluten-free.
- NadiaSeptember 17, 2023 at 6:19 pm - Reply
  Amazing! I haven’t tired this recipe with buckwheat flour, so it’s good to know it also works well! Glad you enjoyed them and thank you for your feedback 😀 x
FionaSeptember 16, 2023 at 9:53 pm - Reply
These are delicious – thank you. I didn’t have rice flour, so went to use spelt flour, but by mistake I used the wrong packet and so my ones were made with buckwheat flour and ground almonds, instead. They were really good, tho’, and also gluten-free.