Kleicha كليجة are often baked for Easter, or for the end of Ramadan.

As you make this recipe, pray for the 3 million displaced Iraqis. Pray they’d hear the gospel and trust in Jesus, and find true comfort and security in him.

Ingredients
240g white flour (or 100g ground almonds + 140g rice flour)
1 tsp salt
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
4 tbsp syrup or honey
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom powder

  1. 140g dates
    1/2 tsp cinnamon
    1/2 tsp cardamom powder
    1 tsp cocoa powder
    4-8 tbsp water
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt and spices. Add the melted coconut and honey. Mix until well combined.
  2. If the dough is not sticking together and looks crumbly, add milk or almond milk, 1 tbsp at a time until it becomes sticky. Place in the fridge and leave to chill for 30 minutes.
  1. Add the dates, spices and cocoa to a saucepan and add a little bit of water, depending on how dry your dates are.
  2. Gently warm the saucepan, and mash the dates with a wooden spoon until it all becomes a smooth, thick and sticky mixture. It needs to be thin enough to spread.
  3. Preheat your oven to 180*C.
  4. Roll out the dough pastry to an even rectangle 0.5cm thick.
    Spread the date filling over the dough leaving a 1cm edge.Roll up the pastry into a large log.
    Using a sharp serrated knife, slice into 2.5cm thick pieces.
    Bake upright on a tray for 20 minutes.