Festivals are fun. Festivals in India are very colorful. Whats your favorite festival/holiday?
It’s one of those festive weeks for Indians. It’s called Ganesh Pooja. The festival of THE ELEPHANT GOD.
Throughout India, people celebrate this festival. It’s colorful, bright, with people singing,chanting, music screaming everywhere, it’s a beautiful atmosphere.
Kids dress up in their new clothes, visit family and friends. It’s a time when people unite in streets to decorate and it’s a big grand affair.
Food. This festival is all about Food, ranging from sweets, savory and more sweets with more food.
Keeping that in mind, I’ve created this sweet/cookie.
A marriage between a Moon Cake and Maamoul and out comes offspring, GUJIA. There is no other way to explain this cookie. It all comes together quite well though, you’ll see.
I love moon cakes and moon cake molds, I think it is a genius piece of equipment. I enjoy cookies from all around the world, what’s not to love, they are buttery, sweet and there’s something for everyone.
The coating is a shortbread kind of pastry inspired by Lebanese Ma’amoul, made of semolina flour stuffed with nuts, dates and sweetened shredded coconut. The stuffing is almost like a laddu(Indian sweet), the coating is crispy and not too sweet.
It is a festival season, season to give and enjoy. They are perfect to wrap up and give as gifts.
Here is my ‘mix of cultures cookie’, for my favorite festival of the year.
NOTE:- YOU do not need a mold to make these cookies, I have given some simple alternatives in my recipe method…check #7.
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Makes around 24-30 cookies
350 degrees for 30 minutes
Skill level- Easy
Ingredients:
For the outer layer:
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup semolina flour
1/2-3/4 water
1 stick or 1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 large pinch of saffron
1 tsp crushed dried rose petals
For the stuffing:
1 cup dates
1/2 cup dried figs
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup pistachios
1/2 cup walnuts
1 tsp kewra essense(optional)
1 tsp rose water
2 tbsp cream to brush on top of the cookies before baking.
Method:
1. Take semolina in a small bowl and add water to it and let sit for at least 30 minutes. The semolina will soak up the water completely.
2. Mix all other dry ingredients for the outer layer.
3. The butter should be melted and has to be at room temperature before you add it to the dry ingredients.
4. Mix well together the dry ingredients and the semolina with the butter and make a smooth dough. If the dough is too dry add a tbsp or more to make it smooth. MAKE sure not to work the dough too much. Mix till it incorporates well and is smooth and not too dry nor very wet.
5. Leave it at room temperature covered tightly for 2 hours.
6. In a food processor add all the ingredients for the stuffing and make a coarse and solid mix. Make sure to grind the nuts a bit fine, because when you use the mold the nuts don’t stick out.
7. Make equal portions of the outer layer and the stuffing. I used a scale and made the outer layer portioned out 25 grams each and the stuffing 10 to 15 grams. This way you get everything similar in size and bakes evenly.
8. Take a portion of the outer coating and flatten, make sure the center is a bit thicker than the edges. Put the stuffing in, bring the edges together to make a round ball and use a moon cake mold to make the cookies.
ALTERNATIVELY– You can just make a ball and flatten it with your palm or press with some water glass which has some design or press with POTATO MASHER very lightly so you get the design and you also get it flattened.
8. Put it on a parchment sheet or any non stick baking sheet,brush it with some cream for the sheen and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Mine took 30 minutes.
COOL and you can store this at room temperature for up to 10 days in a air tight container.
ENJOY!!
Note: Every oven is different, so if you see the cookies are browning too quickly, please turn down the temperature a notch.
If your feel that the design of the cookie is getting dull or not sharp before you make all the them, put the cookies in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.
You might have left over stuffing depending on the amount you use.
Authentic Maamoul-Find HERE with steps.(Mama Lebaneseblog)
Authentic Moon Cakes- Find it Here.(AnnCoo Journal)
Authentic Gujia – Find it Here with steps.(Jopreet’s Kitchen)
You have combined some amazing flavors here
Stuffed cookies looks superb and perfect. Beautiful click.
What pretty cookies! They must taste absolutely divine. I love that filling.
Cheers,
Rosa
What a gorgeous blend of cultures! I really want to get one of those moon cake molds! 😀
oh my these are beautiful!! And I love how they combine two cultures…the stuffing is just dreamy.
Omg! When I first saw these, I thought they looked like moon cake! And now I read on and learn all this and the fact that you have a moon cake mold (where did you get it?)! I love moon cakes – we are getting ready to celebrate that festival in our family. Your cakes came out beyond beautiful and I love learning about the Indian festival as well! Awesome job!
Thanks all .
@Monica-i got these online, here’s the link..
http://www.amazon.com/Decoration-mould-flowers-Round-stamps/dp/B00AQPKX1U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1378731479&sr=8-5&keywords=mooncake+molds
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So interesting – these remind me of the Chinese moon cakes my mom makes. So pretty!
These cookies are gorgeous! What a lovely combination of cultures.
you’ve combined ingredients, flavors and cultures so well.. very impressed.
The presentation with rangoli is just amazing and so is that box with ganpati on it..
I find myself overly nostalgic today – I miss all the festivities at home.
I have got to get me one of ’em molds!
I love how you have combined the ingredients and more importantly, tied 2 cultures.
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi, May Lord Ganesha bless you and yours!
what an interesting idea for a cookie and love those designs 🙂
an interesting amalgamation of the three sweets. they are looking so pretty.
Its also about the time for mooncake festival over here. There’s plenty of varieties these days with so many types of filling inside.
Great crisscross between both, mooncake and maamul. You have made a wonderful unique sweet to be offered to Ganesha on this day.
gujia meets mamoul!! more than anything i’m in awe… in my world.. somethings are best shop bought.. and gujia is one of them.. so to say that i’m impressed is putting it very lightly!! they look lovely!!
How wonderful, I love the way you have combined different techniques to make these cookies!
I love the filling & the moon cake mould idea! Soo Pretty.
Such beautiful cookies, and the filling sounds wonderful. I have been craving dates so badly lately, I think I am going to go out to the market and get some today after work 🙂
Ohmygosh, Asha! I am blown, blown away! LOVE your photography here…and, I just adore cookies with fillings made of dried fruits, honey and nuts! Rugelach is my favorite filled cookie and I’ve heard of Chinese Moon Pies. But, my goodness…I must make these ASAP and I need that little mold/press! Beautiful work, m’lady! Pinning! xo
Oh my dear Asha…these look adorable…I loved the styling too 🙂
I am a big fan of Mamool (arabic stuffed cookie) these sound very similar…I was in search of the mould – thanks for the link!!
Oh my Ash! You had me at “stuffing similar to laddu” I love, love laddus! I am packing my bags and catching the next flite to SFO so please save me some of these!
These mooncake lookalike cookies are gorgeous! GREAT job lady!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
Thank you for the link, Asha! I never knew these molds existed. I really want one (even though I’d never be silly enough to attempt homemade moon cakes)! xo
How sweet and adorable are these cookies? I agree with you, moon cake molds rock! And the filling for these sound just amazing!
@Eva- sounds good..have fun baking girl.
@Stacy-Rugelach, yes, how can I forget those…ain’t the moon cake mold awesome…there are so many varieties…these are reasonable, works fine..thanks you my dearie.
@Shem-thanks hon..get em’ you’ll love it..
@Sashi-sweety, I want to send you some soon…but come to SF…we’ll have a ball.
@Monica- you are welcome dear, they have so many varieties, the wooden ones which are so popular and has some very intricate designs. These work so well for me..give it a shot..and hey it is sooooooo easy, I promise, try it Please..xoxo
@SM-thank you..
These cookies are a work of art, Ash. Really, they’re gorgeous, and that filling looks so decadent and delicious. That festival sounds like something I would love!
OMG what a treat for the eyes.. 🙂 Loved it and looks delicious too..
WOW — absolutely gorgeous. I love this sort of culinary project — so many beautiful artistic details. (And your photography takes my breath away!)
Lovely combination for the Ganesha. Too good pictures.
Those look just like Chinese mooncakes :-)) As always, your photos are awesome!
OMG, wonderful flavours and I am in great love with your baked goods, wish I was your neighbour…
Perfect cookies. Lovely combination and good cllicks
The cookies look absolutely beautiful. Love the marriage of the flavors in these cookies.
Asha those look super cool. My GF is in love with them. I guess I’m need to buy me one of those moon mold…
What a luscious treat, Asha!
The combination of ingredients used for the stuffing is amazing.
this is really interesting asha.. very innovative and thanks for linking to my post..
Thanks for the recipe, awesome clicks.
These are absolutely adorable! I’ve seen moon cake moulds on Amazon but didn’t realise how cute they turn out cookies! I’m going to get some now! I adore your flavours too Asha, great job on the stuffed cookies.
Nazneen
Absolutely gorgeous! I love shortbread cookies..
I do love Indian festivals, colorful and with plenty of great sweets! Your pastries are somewhat vintage, reminds me of those homemade and genuine delicacies of my childhood. I’d love to try some!
They look so elegant and that flower on top is so beautiful! These pastries are perfect for the festivities!
These are a real work of art, Ash, just beautiful! Your photos are amazing as always, too. I would love that festival, especially with cookies like this!
Your cookies should be named, “Hello Bombshell” 🙂
Honestly, I have never seen such PERFECT looking cookies in my damned life! Lovely ivory skin, crimson freckles,flowery presence … Ash, I’m so charmed, so mesmerized, so awestruck that I feel like kissing you … on the cheek … as a note of my appreciation as to how much I adore your talent and photographic efforts 🙂
Hugs.
Asha, I thought these were moon cakes! 🙂 But these stuffed shortbread cookies sound really good with nuts & dates. Beautiful and artistic patterns on the cookies, too! You are an artistic baker! Yay, it’s vegan-friendly!
Wow these are beautiful. I’ve never had these before but the filling sounds incredibly delicious. There isn’t a single ingredient I dislike in this recipe. My family will love these and it even has saffron in it.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to try it. I’m saving it right now.
OMG…these are so so enticing….Filling is so delicious and with moon shaped cookies it looks so tempting..very cleverly done!
Fusion cookies looks delicious, Love it. You are genius.
Real pieces of art…I’d love to participate in this colorful festival!
Oh my gosh, these photos are stunning, the cookies are stunning–wow! I want one of those molds now too. I bet it’s therapeutic to stamp that down onto the cookies!
Beautiful cookies, I bet they taste beyond delicious! Would love to try one!
These look so good Asha. And love the photography. I need to get hands on that moon cake mold.
thank you, thank you friends..this was so much fun to make..
@Denise..it’s also celebrate in some places here and is nice..
@Daniela-thank you my lovely lady..hugs
@Pamela…how I wish I could send a huge batch..
@Nusrat-hugs and kisses back for your sweetnessxoxo
@Kiersten, yes, you are dang right, these were quite therapeutic..
@Shumaila glad to see you back..
@ Vicki=thank you..coming from a culinary guru, I am gonna run with this compliment..xx
@Mike-now you have get her one..:)
Impeccable styling, my friend. A marriage of different recipes from cultures all over the world. Love the use of moon cake mold. I use it a lot too, with my mom in Malaysia. Can’t wait to bake more festive cookies.
Pinned!!
I spent about 4 hours cooking for the ganesh festival and yet nothing looked as good as this! Loved the mix and match of moon cakes and indian filling.
WOW Asha. Really. Seriously. WOW!
We bow in respect of your work.
These cookies are exquisite! I am sure they taste fabulous too! Great job!
This is a beautiful post with stunning photography – wonderful work.
Wow, those are beautiful cookies! As soon as I saw the first photo, I thought of Ma’amoul – those are one of my fav cookies!
These are so pretty! Love the way they look. And what incredible flavor they must have!
OMG! this is so pretty, gorgeous!
@Kiran-thanks for the pin girlfriend.
@Shefali-you are sweet, remember you have a toddler and 3 hours goes in running behind them:)..
@LCT- you are so nice..hugs to you
@Asmita-thank hon.
@DAn- what an honor to see you here..thanks for you nice words.
@Alyssa-thank you so much..imitated the famous maamoul.
@KR-thank you and yes it was so good.
@Simi-thanks girl.xx
look really beautiful Asha!
stuffed cookies interesting n looks super awesome….nice cliks too..
These look amazing Asha! Whatever union made these…I think it’s one we should all promote. Thanks for the idea and recipe 🙂
These are beautiful, now I want one of those molds!
Holly smokes. These cookies look fantastic. That mold makes the cookies look superb. I am sure these are really yummy!!
Very innovative recipe Asha.. With all these goodness, these cookies could easily become my new addiction dear 🙂
@Gloria-thanks
@Maha- thanks a ton.
@Kari-that is such a sweet thing to say my dear, so thankful for your support.
@Miriam-yes, the mold sure was a good thing.
@ Nilu-thanks dear..
@Sylvie what an honor to see you here, thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. Thanks.
These are gorgeous! Loving this recipe!
These are incredible! So pretty and I want like a dozen all for myself right now!
wonderful…love those shortbread cookies….i am sure these are delightful snacks.
Aren’t these just amazing…love the way u’ve mixed up cultures, equipments and food 🙂 I love moon cakes too and my Chinese colleague is helping me get a good mold, will try out these once I get mine.
We have moon cakes in Chinese culture too! Ours are a little bit bigger and filled with lotus paste. It is delicious and I would love to try yours!
Ash, these cookies are so beautiful! What a lovely treat to share with friends and family.
wow..what a prentation..stunning clicks..cookies looks so cute
Those are absolutely beautiful cookies. In love!
Luv these stuffed cookies (and that cookie stamp!) – they’re absolutely beautiful and so professionally made/presented!
This is seriously brilliant Asha. A hybrid of moon cake and maamoul?! You are a genius. A departure from the Gujiya I know but I get the idea. 🙂 Happy Ganesh Chatruthi and aha a way to celebrate the festival! 🙂
Your photos are always so beautiful! The festival sounds like so much fun. Maamouls are one of my favorite cookies so I know I would love your creation. Thanks for sharing:)
These cookies are gorgeous!
These are a work of art! So gorgeous!
Wow these look delicious.
Simon
Thanks again so much.
Really appreciate all your sweet and kind comments.
Beautiful cookies and photos, Ash! I love shortbread cookies and stuffing them is a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing another great recipe!!
What a great use of the moon cake mold. I have a few of them that I use this time of the year for moon cakes. 🙂 Can’t wait to give these cookies a try.
I’m really impressed with the beauty of these cookies. They are real work of art, and so gorgeous! This is one of the best food picture I’ve seen in a while, Asha!
@Bill-thanks so much.
@Amy- I can’t wait for moon cake season..love the red bean stuffing.
@Nami-I am elated. Thank you for the nicest words.
I am not ble to take my eyes off :)This is so perfectly made,must try
Greetings from Florida! I’m bored at work so I decided to check
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the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, awesome blog!
Thank You so much for your encouraging words. Really made my day. I hope you get to try some recipes from the blog. You have a great day.