Semolina Prune Cookies Recipe

Semolina prune cookies

Semolina cookies are not very well known but they do exist in some cultures. The Indians have a version called Nan Khatai cookies. Nan Khatai cookies have semolina, almond and cardamom. The Lebanese also have a version of semolina cookies called Ma’mouls.  Ma’mouls are made with semolina flour, flavored with rose water and orange blossom water and stuffed with dates, pistachios, almonds or walnuts. Ma’mouls are served during Easter and are shaped like cones that resemble the crown that Christ wore on the cross.

My version of the semolina prune cookies are crunchy while the prunes give the cookies a slight stickiness or chewiness, as well as great flavour. 

Dried fruit sticking to your teeth is probably not to everyones liking. This problem can be easily fixed by replacing chocolate chips with 'prune chips’. You will end up with semolina chocolate chip cookies. Since semolina adds a crunchy texture to cookies the semolina chocolate chip cookies will be the crispy version, not the chewy version. If you want a chewy version you will have to work the dough and let it rest for up to 3 days.

In the recipe you can use either butter or oil, or a mixture of both. I used a mixture of coconut and rapeseed oil and it worked great. If you are using oil it will be difficult to mix sugar and oil together until the sugar dissolves. Don't worry, if the sugar goes not dissolve it will dissolve when you add the eggs and mix them at the next step. 

If the dough looks too soft, it will become dryer rather quickly as the semolina and flour absorb the extra liquid. 

Ingredients

½ cup butter or oil 
½ cup sugar (I used slightly less)

1 cup semolina

1 cup flour

1 large egg

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ - 1 cup chopped prunes

1 teaspoon molasses (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Directions

1.  Heat oven to 180 degrees celcius

2.  Cream butter/oil, sugar and molasses until the mixture turns pale and the sugar has dissolved. 

3.  Add egg and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly

4.  Add sifted flour, semolina and baking powder and mix well

5. Fold in the chopped prunes

6.  Place discs or small balls on a greased cookie sheet and flatten.

7.  Bake until cookies are golden brown and delicious, about 12-15 minutes

Semolina prune cookies

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