To add a touch of Lebanese and Middle Eastern spirit to the holiday season, I’ve rounded up our archives to compile a list of festive cookies and bars guaranteed to rock your holidays.
Tamara Ghraybeh, Date Ghraybeh
Tamara (Date-Filled Ghraybeh with Pistachios) are among the most delicious cookies I’ve ever made. Whether you’re looking for something sophisticated to enjoy with coffee or tea, an edible gift to share with friends or neighbors, or simply a fun baking project, these cookies are a must-try recipe to learn and keep in your baking repertoire.
Plain and Pistachio Filled Saniora
Sanioura is a shortbread cookie that hails from Saida (Saidon), a city in southern Lebanon renowned for its delicious Lebanese sweets. One of its most celebrated treats is Sanioura, a scrumptious cookie made with a simple list of ingredients: ghee, powdered sugar, and flour. I’ve included two famous variations: the classic plain version and another made with the same dough but featuring a sweet pistachio surprise inside.
If you’re looking for a quick recipe that doesn’t require long periods of dough resting, or if you’ve been running into issues with other maamoul recipes, then the answer is yes: you need this recipe in your life! This quick and easy version is perfect even for novice bakers. The maamoul cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and it’s impossible to eat just one without reaching for a second!
You’re going to love both the wonderful flavor and the crumbly texture of these cookies! Trust me, they taste even better than the store-bought versions—they’re rich, buttery, and utterly indulgent!
These apple maamoul are some of the most adorable treats I’ve ever had! Remarkably, they’re a cross between traditional maamoul and apple pie cookies, making them the perfect treat when you’re craving something a little out of the box.
These carob cookies are crispy and full of rich flavor, thanks to carob molasses. They’re completely free of refined sugar, vegan, and a perfect choice for those seeking a healthier treat. Carob molasses, or dibs al kharoub as it’s known in Arabic, is also nutrient-dense and rich in antioxidants.
Lebanese Milk Kaak, or Kaak Bhaleeb, is a beloved sweet ring bread that’s soft, fluffy, and pillowy, melting in your mouth with every bite. With its beautiful golden hue and delicate mahlab flavor, these rolls might just be the bread of your dreams!
Barazek, Syrian Sesame Cookies
These scrumptious cookies, known as Barazek, are the signature cookies of Damascus, Syria. Made with ghee, all-purpose flour, and granulated sugar, they’re thin, moderately sweet, and wonderfully crunchy, with a coating of nutty sesame seeds that adds extra texture and a delightful burst of flavor. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of nibbling on Barazek, you already know and appreciate their irresistible combination of nutty and buttery flavors.
These crispy, crunchy Lebanese sweet kaak cookies pair beautifully with tea and are perfect for dunking into a cup of hot salep. They’re meant to be a little hard and wonderfully crisp, with a satisfying crunch in every bite. Seasoned with anise seeds and mahlab, they have a warm, fragrant flavor and are coated in sesame seeds that add a delightful nutty touch. If you grew up in Lebanon, you’ve surely seen these beloved cookies gracing the windows of bakeries across the country!
Namoura, Lebanese Semolina Cake
A quintessential Lebanese and Middle Eastern dessert, it goes by many names, including namoura, basbousa, hareesa, revani, safra, and perhaps a few more. The name and recipe vary from country to country, depending on where it is made.
Namoura is one of the most frequently requested recipes I’ve been asked to share. So, dear readers, here I am, bringing you a foolproof recipe that tastes just like the kind you’d find in a traditional pastry shop!
Any occasion feels more festive with this golden-yellow Lebanese sheet cake known as sfouf. It is a beloved treat often brought to gatherings in Lebanon and served with a cup of coffee or tea. Flavorful and delicious on its own, sfouf needs no frosting or embellishments to shine.
Maamaoul Mad Bil Tamer, Lebanese Date Bars
Maamoul Mad Bil Tamer, or Lebanese date bars, are every date lover’s dream! They feature a wonderfully dense date filling sandwiched between layers of buttery, crumbly semolina dough. In Lebanon, maamoul comes in many varieties, with fillings such as dates, walnuts, or pistachios.
The word mad literally translates to “spread,” so maamoul mad refers to maamoul that is spread out in a pan or tray. With this version, you can forget about shaping individual maamoul and baking them in batches. Simply assemble everything in one pan, bake, and you’re done! It’s a much easier and less tedious way to prepare this beloved treat without compromising on taste.
Maaoul Mad Bil Ashta, Lebanese Semolina and Clotted Cream Bars
Maamoul Mad Bil Ashta! Popular throughout Lebanon and a personal favorite, these semolina-and-butter bars are filled with rich clotted cream. They’re delightfully crunchy on the outside, with a creamy white filling on the inside. Infused with the distinctive aroma of orange blossom water, they have a wonderfully dense texture that makes every bite irresistible!
Date Ring Kaak, Kaak Al Asawer
Date Ring Kaak, a beloved Palestinian treat, is often known as Kaak Al Asawer, which literally translates to “bracelet cookies.” These are not your ordinary cookies! I would describe them as crispy, fragrant bites made with a delicately spiced dough that encases an enticing date filling.
The contrast between the crisp kaak and the dense, sweet dates is simply magical. If you’re a date lover like me, these are a must-try! Like most Middle Easterners, I have a special relationship with dates, no matter how they’re served. And these Date Ring Kaak will never fail to impress!
These cookies are seriously good! They’re soft and packed with an irresistible almond flavor. I’d say they’re more of an adult-style cookie, delicately scented and wonderfully aromatic, perfect for savoring with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Gingerbread Men with Carob Molasses
These gingerbread men cookies are absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor! Made with warm spices and carob molasses, they’re a wonderful addition to your Christmas dessert table and make a lovely homemade gift to include in a festive gift basket.
Two layers of crispy dough are generously sandwiched with date paste, then rolled into a log. Once sliced, the dates create a beautiful, distinctive pattern. But don’t worry if yours doesn’t form a perfect pinwheel; these cookies are meant to have a rustic look!
A staple treat in Iraqi households around Eid, these cookies make a lovely, light addition to your holiday dessert platter. They may take a little time and effort to prepare, but they’re worth every minute!
Ghraybeh, Middle Eastern Melt in your Mouth Cookies
A much-loved Lebanese and Middle Eastern holiday treat, ghraybeh are delicate little cookies with a smooth texture, traditionally shaped into rings. When you bite into one, you first hear a gentle crunch, followed by a melt-in-your-mouth sensation unlike that of any other cookie I’ve had. They’re somewhat similar to shortbread, but with deeper, richer flavor notes from the ghee.
Ghraybeh are always a hit during the holidays, but beware: they’re highly addictive, and resisting them is no easy feat!
