Macadamia Date Roll Cookies

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Christmas Collaboration with 6 other Food Bloggers for Christmas Cookies

Since this month is all about the holidays, I and my food blogger friends thought we'd come up with some Christmas Cookies for you. Here are six festive cookies that are absolutely amazing. And they do include two no-bake cookies as well as a gluten-free cookie recipe in there. So, now you have a good excuse to try one of them.  Don't forget to look for the links below.

What is the one thing you remember most about Christmas from your childhood?

Is it presents? Santa? The decorations? Christmas dinner? For me, it's baking with my mom.

I think I told you before, as a single mom the two things she did to raise us were sewing and cooking/baking. She'd take lots of orders during Christmas time just so she could give us the Christmas she dreamed for us. Gosh, I cannot imagine how hard she worked just so Santa could bring us the gifts we asked for. She hated to see us disappointed and pushed herself to do so much more.

These are Date Roll cookies and while the nut often changes, the dates remain the same. I'm sure they'd taste amazing with figs or apricots as well. And yet, I've always used dates and that's because mom always used dates. I remember these were so popular that she made buckets of these. I'd help to paint the red and green stripes and that's why they remind me of mom and Christmas even more.

Despite being so far away from home, here in Israel, where we do celebrate Christmas, I share with my kids and raise them with the Christmas spirit doing the same things mom did. I like remembering her with little things she did. Like baking with the kids. It makes me feel like a better mother.

About this (macadamia) Date Roll Cookie dough (Date and Nut Cookies)

Honestly, this is a simple and easy recipe. There are a few extra steps and yet, at Christmas times, a few extra steps are worth it. Don't' you think? The cookie dough is a simple shortcrust dough that does not spread, which is why these stay in shape. And they also have that nice crisp bite. A cookie that crumbles in your mouth with a sweet nutty center? Oh yes!

Whatever you do, make sure you don't try to do this in one go. Take your time. Let the cookie dough chill so it's easy to roll and easy to work. Like my mom always said - A CHILLED COOKIE DOUGH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. And unchilled dough has the potential of being a nightmare.

Also, crush the nuts in a food processor so they are crushed but not powder consistency. It's nicer to bite into pieces of nuts rather than powder. The quantities of dates and nuts given below are a good proportion but you can add a few more or less of either dates or nuts.

Give them a Christmas Makeover

As you can see these make great Christmas gift jars. Perfect treats for the holiday. And to take them one step further, I even gave them a Christmas makeover with these red and green stripes. I used edible color gels diluted with some water. You can use supermarket brand water-based colors for this job. No big fuss with which colors to use here.

Let's talk ingredients for our Macadamia Date Roll Cookies - (Save/Pin)

• Dates - Date roll cookies can be made with dates and yet, to be honest, they can very well be with figs or apricot or prunes. You can use a combination of them too!
• Macadamia - I used macadamia nuts this time. And yet, I often use pecan (my husband's favorite nuts). While my mom made them with cashews or walnuts. So, you see the nut can be your choice too - told ya!!
• Consistency - While you can change the nuts and the fruit - the one thing you wanna make sure you do is to keep the ratio of fruit to nuts as 3:1. Which means 3 parts fruit and one part nuts, more or less. As you will see in the video above - these need to be rolled into logs so they can be then wrapped into the dough. You can roll them better when the ration of fruit to nuts is right. Again - approximately 3 to 1 ratio is good.
• Spices - For variation, you can add some Christmas spice in these. I don't, and honestly, it's just because mom didn't. And yet, a mix of some warm spices such as ginger, cinnamon, or nutmeg would really add a lot to these cookies.

Useful Tips and Tools

• I'm not a slave to mixers. And yet, when you need some good creaming I have to insist that you use the [easyazon_link identifier="B0017I7H9G" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]K-Mix[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link identifier="B00005UP2P" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]Kitchen Aid[/easyazon_link].
• The [easyazon_link identifier="B01AXM4WV2" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]food processor[/easyazon_link]does a great job of crushing the nuts. So make sure you use it. Do not use a blender as it will make a powder consistency.
• A good baking tray is always important. Try using a light colored [easyazon_link identifier="B0026RHI3M" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"] baking tray[/easyazon_link]. Another option is to line the baking tray with [easyazon_link identifier="B00K282KY4" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]parchment paper[/easyazon_link].
• If you aren't going to fill or decorate these cookies a regular rolling pin will work just fine. And yet, a [easyazon_link identifier="B0091QO3RK" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]cookie rolling pin[/easyazon_link] has the side spacers that will also help you with rolling. So all your cookies are leveled and bake evenly.
• Also, it is really important to cool cookies completely on all sides as soon as they come out of the oven. So take them off the baking tray to prevent them from cooking further and place them on a [easyazon_link identifier="B00091PNTI" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]cooking rack[/easyazon_link] so they air circulates on all sides. This prevents steam from going back into the cookie, thus, keeping them crispy not soggy.
• Always bake cookies on the center rack of your [easyazon_link identifier="B00J4EBBN8" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]oven[/easyazon_link]. If you have more than one tray simply bake them one at a time. You can bake two trays at the same time, and yet this can lead to some of the cookies in the bottom tray spreading too much. Also, you can rotate the trays during the baking. This is helpful with some cookies.
• Most cookies usually bake between 10 to 12 minutes. Since cookies bake quickly they can also get over-baked. This is due to our tendency to get distracted at the last minute. Hence, my solution is a [easyazon_link identifier="B018YAUK2A" locale="US" tag="vesarofca-20"]kitchen timer[/easyazon_link] that is always set to 10 minutes. I turn it on as soon as I place the cookies in the oven. This has saved me many cookies since my kids always keep me busy

These will make perfect cookies jar gifts for this holiday! (Save/Pin)

How to Make Date Roll Cookies (Save/Pin)

Prepare the cookie dough

• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt set aside.
• Add vanilla to the egg - set aside.
• Cream butter and confectioners sugar until creamy.
• Add egg mix- mix until well combined.
• Next, add flour in two batches - mix until well combined.
• Once well combined - divide the dough into two or three batches and form discs.
• Wrap discs in cling wrap to chill well.

Prepare the filling

• In a food processor add the nuts and spices - pulse to coarse breadcrumb consistency.
• Remove the nut mixture - set aside.
• Deseed from the dates and add them to the food processor.
• Pulse until broken into tiny pieces as shown in the video.
• Now add the nut mixture back into the food processor with the dates.
• Pulse until it all comes together.
• Take a little mixture into your hand, you should be able to roll into a ball.
• If not pulse some more - then set the mixture aside.

Make the date rolls

• This is fairly simple as long as your dough is well chilled and mixture can be rolled into logs.
• Take a little date mixture into your hand - form a ball then roll it into a log.
• You want thin logs so the resulting cookies will be delicate and pretty.
• Do not make them very long - they are easier to handle in lengths of 10 to 15 inches.

Assemble the date roll cookies

• Ensure the dough is really well chilled.
• Roll dough into a sheet as shown in the video.
• Place a date log on the sheet at one end.
• Use a tiny amount of water to help stick the dough together.
• Wrap the dough into a log.
• Place the rolls onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the rolls back into the fridge.
• Cover tray with cling wrap to avoid them getting too dry.

Cut and bake the date roll cookies

• Preheat oven at 190 C / 374 F.
• Once chilled the logs are easier to handle.
• Cut them into two-inch pieces - I use a ruler so they are all same size.
• Brush with egg wash,  OR
• Create red and green Christmas stripes.
• Sprinkle some granulated sugar on them.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 9 to 10 minutes.
• Once baked let them cool 10 minutes before you move them to a baking rack.
• Cool completely before you place them in a cookie jar.

Frequently asked questions

SAVE THIS RECIPE ON PINTEREST FOR LATER. TRIED MY RECIPE? SHARE IT WITH ME, PLEASE.
Share a picture of your work with me by uploading an image here below my image on this board. You can also find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

Finally, here are the links to the rest of the cookies in the collage above.

• Holiday White Chocolate Mini Popcorn Balls - by Gloria Duggan  of Homemade & Yummy
• Gingerbread Cookies - by Melissa Radcliffe of My Wife Can Cook
• No-Bake Cinnamon Peanut Butter Cranberry Cookies - By Arlene Braun Mobley of Flour on my Face
• Gluten-Free Spiced Cookie Brittle - by Sarah Jane Parker of The Fit Cookie
• No-Bake Chocolate Cranberry Cookie - by Kirsten Burrows of Treat yourself Sweeter.
  And of course - My Macadamia Date Roll Cookies  

Date Roll Cookies - Date and Nut Cookies

Author: Veena Azmanov

5 from 46 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Calories: 131kcal

Adjust Servings Here: 36 cookies

Description

Date Roll Cookies are a Christmas tradition in my family. The sweet and nutty filling wrapped up in butter-based cookie dough just melts in your mouth. So delicious you can't stop eating. This cookie uses macadamia, and yet pecans or walnuts make an equally delicious combination with dates. Also, a few red and green stripes on the date roll add a nice Christmas twist to these as well. 

ADJUST SERVINGS HERE - 36 cookies

Ingredients

For the dough

• ▢ 2 cups (250 g) All-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 ¾ cups (210 g) Powdered sugar
• ▢ ¾ cup (170 g) Unsalted butter (1 ½ stick, 6 oz) room temperature
• ▢ 1 Egg
• ▢ ¼ tsp Baking powder
• ▢ ½ tsp Salt
• ▢ 1 tsp Vanilla extract

For the filing

• ▢ 4 oz (110 g) Macadamia
• ▢ 10 oz (280 g) Dates
• ▢ ¼ tsp Mixed spices optional

Eggwash

• ▢ ½ Egg
• ▢ 2 tbsp Water

Instructions

Prepare the cookie dough

• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt set aside.
• Add vanilla to the egg - set aside.
• Cream butter and confectioners sugar until creamy.
• Add egg mix- mix until well combined.
• Next, add flour in two batches - mix until well combined.
• Once well combined - divide dough into two or three batches and form discs.
• Wrap discs in cling wrap to chill well.

Prepare the filling

• In a food processor add the nuts and spices - pulse to coarse breadcrumb consistency.
• Remove the nut mixture - set aside.
• Deseed from the dates and add them to the food processor.
• Pulse until broken into tiny pieces as shown in the video.
• Now add the nut mixture back into the food processor with the dates.
• Pulse until it all comes together.
• Take a little mixture into your hand, you should be able to roll into a ball.
• If not pulse some more - then set the mixture aside.

Make date rolls

• This is fairly simple as long as your dough is well chilled and mixture can be rolled into logs. 
• Take a little date mixture into your hand - form a ball then roll it into a log.
• You want thin logs so the resulting cookies will be delicate and pretty.
• Do not make them very long - they are easier to handle in lengths of 10 to 15 inches.

Assemble the date roll cookies

• Ensure the dough is really well chilled.
• Roll dough into a sheet as shown in the video.
• Place a date log on the sheet at one end.
• Use a tiny amount of water to help stick the dough together.
• Wrap the dough into a log.
• Place the rolls onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the rolls back into the fridge.
• Cover tray with cling wrap to avoid them getting too dry.

Cut and bake the date roll cookies

• Preheat oven at 190 C / 374 F.
• Once chilled the logs are easier to handle.
• Cut them into two-inch pieces - I use a ruler so they are all same size.
• Brush with egg wash,  OR
• Create red and green Christmas stripes.
• Sprinkle some granulated sugar on them.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 9 to 10 minutes.
• Once baked let them cool 10 minutes before you move them to a baking rack.
• Cool completely before you place them in a cookie jar.

Equipment

Kitchen Scale

Meas Cups and Spoons

Spatula

Baking Tray

Nutrition Information

Serving: 31gCalories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 17.6gProtein: 1.5gFat: 6.6gSaturated Fat: 2.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 36mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 1.1gSugar: 10.9gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

Did you make this recipe? Tag @veenaazmanov on instagram or #hashtag it #veenaazmanov

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