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Friday, January 29, 2010

Haloua with Raisins


Some delicious baked goods...














A pot of tea, Hmm?













It's Tea Time!














Haloua is a North African cookie made in both Morocco and Algeria. Like any sweet or tea cookie I can think of from these countries, it is delicious. The outside is a butter cookie that hides an interior of raisins and nuts mashed with cinnamon and orange blossom water. There is almost nothing better I can think of save maybe date haloua! Oh, and the only sugar used in this cookie is the powdered sugar in which they are rolled. And one can use Earth Balance buttery spread instead of butter (both are excellent), which renders a vegan cookie. Enjoy with tea or something nice and hot!

Haloua with Raisins:
1 1/3 cups of flour
1 stick plus two tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons orange blossom water

Filling:
3/4 Cups raisins
3/4 Cups toasted walnuts or almonds
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2-3 teaspoons of orange blossom water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a food processor, place the dates, nuts, cinnamon and orange blossom water. Blend till you get a nice paste. Set aside.

For the pastry, cut the flour with the butter until mixture is crumbly. Add the orange blossom water to pull into a dough. Gently work into a smooth dough. Make quarter size balls and flatten in the palm of your hand enough to place some mixture in the middle. Pull the dough over the mixture and crimp the dough together.

Place the cookies on a baking dish and bake for about 15 min. Allow to cool and rub in powdered sugar or sprinkle through a sifter. Enjoy!

14 comments:

  1. these halouas look delicious. I'm going to make them this weekend... will write back and let you know!!thanks for yr recipe for this unique (to me at least!) food/cookie. more later.

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  2. YUM! These look amazing. I love North-African pastries, with their combination of fruit and nuts and honey and spices. Thanks for this recipe. I've bookmarked it.

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  3. These look so yummy! had never heard of them before this. great photos!

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  4. These look mighty fine. Love the sound of using dates too.

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  5. These look so lovely!

    -Tam (A Little Bit Burnt)

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  6. Scrumptious. Remind me of the cookies my mom used to make. I loved her date-filled ones.

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  7. Call me bewitched at these (sorry for the pun). I'm going to try these, like easy rugelach.

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  8. I really would like to have that halved one above. It would be great with a cup of well brewed tea. I often make cookies very similar to this one. I just add grated and sauted apple into that filling mixture.
    And I love the pot in the picture.

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  9. I'm not a huge fan of raisins but this looks interesting!

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  10. These look great! What's orange blossom water...?

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  11. Your Haloua looks scrumptuous! I love everytjiong with orange flower water(and rose water, which you probably use a lot too, I'm sure?)
    Lovely photos too...mouthwatrering
    Ronelle

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