Stuffed Date-orange Cookies

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 20
• 1/2 lb soft dates, pitted
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
• 1/2-2 cup confectioners' sugar, additional for dusting
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, plus
• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/4 cup milk

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 325°f.
• 2 to make the filling: puree the filling ingredients in a food processor until evenly combined, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• 3 remove and set aside.
• 4 clean the processor bowl.
• 5 put the flour, baking powder, the 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar, and salt in the bowl of food processor and pulse 3 to 4 times to mix.
• 6 add the butter, oil, and milk pulsing until the dough just comes together.
• 7 take care not to overwork the dough; it will be slightly wet.
• 8 remove dough from the processor, and roll into 20 equally sized balls.
• 9 in the palm of your hand, press and pat each ball of dough into a 2 3/4-inch round.
• 10 place a rounded teaspoon of filling in the center of each round and draw the edges up and around the filling.
• 11 pinch the dough together to make a sealed ball, and then carefully roll the cookie between your palms to make a smooth round ball.
• 12 press gently to flatten the cookie slightly, then place them seamed side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• 13 repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• 14 gently prick the cookies with a fork or a wooden skewer in a decorative pattern taking care not to pierce the dough to the filling (i used the pampered chef "hold 'n slice" gadget which worked perfectly).
• 15 bake the cookies until firm and slightly puffed, and the tops are pale but the bottoms are just beginning to turn slightly golden, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• 16 dust generously with confectioners' sugar, cool and dust again.