This classic Middle Eastern date cookie log is an easy, no-bake dessert that comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients. Perfectly sweet and delicious, it makes a wonderful treat to enjoy with your morning coffee or afternoon tea. No oven required!

Lebanese Eid Sweets and a Trendy No-Bake Date Cookie Roll

Sweets are an essential part of Eid celebrations in Lebanon, bringing family and friends together around a table filled with traditional treats. Some of the most popular Lebanese sweets served during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha include date maamoul, nut maamoul, maamoul mad, ghraybeh, tamara, sanioura, and baklava.

But what if you’re short on time and need a beautiful dessert to impress your Eid guests? This easy Middle Eastern Date Cookie Log is just what you need! Made with only a few simple ingredients, this no-bake dessert requires minimal effort yet looks wonderfully impressive on a serving platter.

It features a delicious layer of sweet date paste combined with plain cookies, rolled into an attractive log and sliced into beautiful rounds. Every bite offers a lovely combination of rich dates and crunchy cookies. It’s an easy, delicious, and eye-catching addition to your Eid dessert table, and one your guests will love!

How to Make the Date Cookie Roll

Brown the Milk Powder

Adding browned milk powder is optional, but highly recommended! Toasting milk powder gives it a beautiful golden-beige color and a rich, nutty flavor that adds extra depth to the date paste. It also helps make the date mixture easier to handle and work with.

How to brown milk powder: Transfer the full-fat milk powder to a saucepan and place it over low heat. Stir continuously to prevent it from burning, until the powder turns a golden-beige color. This should take about 10 minutes. Be patient, as slow and steady heating is the key to achieving evenly toasted milk powder without scorching it.

Make the Date Paste

Use Medjool dates or another soft, moist variety of dates for the best results. Open each date by hand and remove the pit. Transfer the pitted dates to a food processor, then add the melted butter, orange blossom water, crushed mastic (if used) and cadamom powder. Process until the mixture forms a smooth, cohesive date paste.

Add the browned milk powder and process again briefly until everything is well combined and evenly incorporated.

To Assemble the Date Cookie Log

Roll out the date paste: Place the date filling between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it into a thin rectangle, approximately 10 × 15 inches (25 × 38 cm). Trim the edges to create a neat, uniform rectangle. Don’t throw away those trimmed pieces! It would be a crime to waste them. Set them aside, then mix them with some crushed plain cookies later to make delicious bite-sized date balls. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper.

Arrange the cookies: Starting along the edge closest to you, arrange the plain cookies side by side in a horizontal row over the date paste, placing them close together.

Roll the date and cookies: Using the bottom sheet of parchment paper to help you, gently lift the date paste and fold it over the first row of cookies, completely enclosing them. Continue adding another layer of cookies on top of the rolled section, then lift the parchment paper again to fold the date paste over the cookies. Repeat this process, adding and rolling more cookies until the entire date rectangle has been wrapped around them, forming a thick, compact log.

Watch the detailed video tutorial to see exactly how to assemble and roll the date cookie log. It will make this step much easier to follow!

Coat with sesame seeds: Spread the sesame seeds over a clean countertop or a large flat plate. Gently roll the date cookie log over the sesame seeds, pressing lightly so they adhere to the surface and coat the log evenly.

Chill and slice: Wrap the date cookie log in parchment paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm enough to slice neatly. Cut into even slices and serve with a cup of coffee or tea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular dates instead of Medjool dates?

Yes! Medjool dates are particularly suitable because they are naturally soft, moist, and easy to process into a smooth paste. You can also use other soft, moist varieties of dates. If your dates are on the dry side, they may need a little extra preparation to achieve a workable consistency.

Why should I brown the milk powder?

Browning the milk powder is optional, but it adds a wonderful toasted, nutty flavor and a lovely golden color to the date paste. It also helps give the mixture a firmer, more manageable consistency, making it easier to roll around the cookies.

Can I make the date cookie roll ahead of time?

Absolutely! This no-bake date cookie roll is a wonderful make-ahead dessert. You can prepare it a day or two before serving and keep it refrigerated until ready to slice. This also gives the log enough time to firm up, making it easier to cut into neat, even slices.

 How do I keep the date cookie roll from falling apart when slicing?

The secret is to refrigerate the assembled log for at least 1 hour before slicing. This allows the date paste to firm up and hold the cookies together. Use a sharp knife and cut with gentle, steady pressure to achieve clean, even slices.

Can I freeze the Middle Eastern Date Cookie Roll?

Yes! You can freeze the date cookie roll for up to 1 month. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight freezer-safe container. When ready to serve, thaw it in the refrigerator until firm but easy to slice.

Looking for the best traditional Lebanese Eid cookies? Here are our favorite recipes:

• Date Maamoul
• Pistachio Maamoul
• Maamoul Mad Bil Tamer/ Date Bars
• Tamara Ghraybeh
• Farida’s Date Ring Cookies
• Plain and Pistachio Filled Senioura
• Cheese Maamoul
• Lebanese Milk Kaak
• Lebanese Sweet Kaak

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Date Cookie Log

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Chilling Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Course

Dessert

---

Snack

Cuisine

Middle East

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Description

This no-bake date cookie log is made by layering soft date paste with plain cookies, then rolling everything into a beautiful log and slicing it into rounds. It's scrumptious, wonderfully eye-catching, and requires no baking whatsoever!

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

For the Base

• ▢ 1200 g / 2.6 lb plain rectangle biscuits

For the Date Filling

• ▢ 1 kg / 2.2 lb Medjool dates or any soft variety, pitted and mashed into a paste
• ▢ 100 g / 3.5 oz butter melted over low heat
• ▢ 1 cup full-cream milk powder optional, but recommended
• ▢ 2 tbsp orange blossom water
• ▢ 1 tsp cardamom powder
• ▢ 0.5 tsp mastic gum crushed (optional)

For the Coating

• ▢ White sesame seeds or your favorite crushed nuts (such as pistachios or walnuts)

Instructions

 

Toast the Milk Powder (Optional)

• Place the full-cream milk powder into a saucepan over low heat.
• Stir continuously to prevent burning until it turns a deep, golden beige color with a rich, nutty aroma.
• This process takes about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Prepare the Date Paste

• Open the Medjool dates by hand and remove the pits.
• Transfer the pitted dates to a food processor.
• Add the melted butter, cardamom powder, and crushed mastic gum (if using).
• Blend until a completely smooth paste forms.
• Add the toasted milk powder to the mixture and process one more time until entirely homogeneous.

Assemble the Log

• Place the date filling between two sheets of parchment paper.
• Roll it out thinly into a uniform 10×15-inch / 25×38 cm rectangle.
• Trim any uneven edges to form a perfect rectangle and set the trimmings aside. (Note: Save these trimmings to mix with leftover biscuits later to roll into delicious bite-sized balls!)
• Peel off the top sheet of parchment paper.
• Arrange the plain biscuits side-by-side in a single layer along the edge closest to you to form a horizontal row.
• Lift the bottom parchment paper and roll the date sheet tightly over the biscuits until they are completely enclosed.
• Place a second row of biscuits directly on top of the newly formed log.
• Lift the parchment paper again and roll it forward to cover the new layer of biscuits.

Coat, Chill, and Serve

• Continue adding biscuit rows and rolling until the entire date rectangle is folded tightly around the layers.
• Spread the white sesame seeds (or your favorite crushed nuts) evenly onto your countertop.
• Gently roll the log over the seeds, pressing lightly so they adhere to the outside of the date paste.
• Wrap the log securely and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
• Slice into equal rectangles using a sharp knife and serve alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea.

Video

Notes

Note 1: Use Medjool dates or another soft, moist variety of dates. Avoid dry dates, as soft dates are much easier to process into a smooth, workable paste.

Note 2: Use parchment paper to help fold and roll the date cookie log. It makes the process much easier and helps keep the log neat and compact.

Keyword date cookie log, Eid date dessert, Middle Eastern date cookie log

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