Makroud (Date-Filled Semolina Cookies)

Makroud is the cookie of North African celebrations, loved from Constantine in Algeria to Kairouan in Tunisia. Semolina is rubbed with butter, pressed around a core of date paste, cut into diamonds, fried, and finished in warm honey syrup. The recipe travels between the two countries with small variations — honey or syrup, oil or butter — but the date heart never changes.

A crackle of semolina around a date heart

The outside shatters with a satisfying crunch, giving way to a sweet, floral date center spiked with cinnamon. The honey syrup seeps into every crevice, making each piece glossy and just sticky enough. They are sturdy enough to survive the syrup and the tin, which is exactly the point: they keep for weeks, every Eid table is stacked with them, and one cookie is never enough. Serve them with mint tea and watch them disappear. Make a double batch; they never last long.

Craving more? Explore all North African Kitchen recipes.

North African recipes →