Maamoul (Date-Filled Cookies)

Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons of warm water and the orange blossom water, kneading gently until a soft, pliable dough forms that holds together without cracking.

Make the filling by blending the chopped dates with the cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of butter in a small pan over low heat until smooth, then cool and roll into small marbles.

Pinch off a walnut-sized piece of dough, flatten it into a disk, place a date ball in the center, and seal the dough around it into a smooth ball.

Press each filled ball into a floured maamoul mold or flatten gently and decorate with a fork, then arrange seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes until the bottoms are just set and the tops remain pale, then cool completely and dust generously with powdered sugar.