Klaychah (Date Cookies) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb dried dates, finely chopped (dried pressed dates)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup milk

Preparation

In saucepan, combine dates, butter, water, cardamom and cloves.
Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until dates become a paste.
Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well; add shortening and milk. Knead into dough, adding more flour or milk if necessary.
Divide dough into 4 parts then roll, one at a time, to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Divide date paste into 4 parts and roll each out, between sheets of wax paper, to match dough size.
Remove wax paper; place date layer on dough. (If date paste is too soft, gently spread each portion on dough with knife.)
Roll into cylinder, jellyroll style.
Slice rolls into 1-inch pieces and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake in preheated 325F oven 35 minutes or until cookies begin to turn golden brown.
Let cool.