Published: Dec 2, 2018 Updated: Nov 29, 2020 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 24 Comments

Kileche | Kleicha (Assyrian Holiday Cookies)

Name: Assyrian Holiday Cookies (Kileche/Kleicha)
Prep time: 150 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp yeast; 1 cup warm milk; ⅓ cup granulated sugar ((plus 1 tbsp to activate yeast)); 10 cups all-purpose flour; 1½ tsp salt; 1 tbsp cardamom; 1½ tsp nigella sativa seeds; 2 cups unsalted butter ((melted)); ⅓ cup plain yogurt ((room temperature)); 3 medium eggs ((beaten)); 1½ cup ground walnuts; ⅔ cup sugar ((may reduce to ½ cup)); 1 tsp cardamom; 1½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut; ⅔ cup sugar ((may reduce to ½ cup)); 1 tsp cardamom; 1 tbsp rose water ((optional)); 16 ounce date paste; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp cardamom; 2 medium eggs ((beaten)); 2 tbsp whole milk

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Kileche (Kleicha) are traditional Assyrian holiday cookies that are usually baked for Easter and Christmas. They come in three varieties: Date, walnut, and coconut, and go perfectly with a hot cup of Chai!

About This Recipe

Although I call these "Assyrian Holiday cookies," the truth is they are not only prepared by Assyrians. In fact, they are Iraq's National Cookie; specifically, the date-filled variety.

They are called "kileche" in Assyrian and "kleicha" in Arabic. Assyrians usually make Kileche twice a year, for Christmas and Easter. But the fact that we don't make them very often only makes them more special and gives us another reason to look forward to the holidays!

What Goes Into This Recipe

kileche dough ingredients — **Ingredients pictured reflect ½ the recipe**

Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

Nigella Sativa Seeds — Nigella Sativa Seeds (affiliate link) add a peppery flavor and are sometimes used in baked goods in the Middle East. If you can't find nigella sativa seeds, you can use black sesame seeds instead. If you need to, you can leave them out.
Coconut — Unsweetened desiccated coconut (affiliate link) is usually used in coconut Kileche. It has a very fine texture. Because it's unsweetened, sugar is usually mixed in to sweeten the filling. If you use sweetened coconut, you don't have to add sugar.
Dates — Pre-packaged Date Paste (affiliate link) is usually used to make date Kileche, it's quick and convenient. However, you can make your own date paste using my 3 Ingredient Cardamom Date Paste recipe. If you do, just follow the recipe steps, no need to add anything else to it.

How to Make This Recipe

Prepare the Dough

Step 1: Mix yeast into warm milk, then sprinkle with one tablespoon of sugar, mix and set aside until foamy.

Step 2: Meanwhile, add flour into a large bowl and whisk in the remaining sugar, salt, Nigella Sativa seeds, and cardamom.

bowl of flour with other spices on the side

Step 3: Stir melted butter, yogurt, eggs, and milk-yeast mixture into the flour until crumbly. knead by hand, until the dough is soft and smooth. Score the dough with a Cross, cover, and allow to rest in a warm place for one hour.

I once asked my mother why she and other Assyrians marked Chada and Kileche dough with a "cross." Mom explained that it was a way for the Assyrians to display their Christian faith when they were being persecuted and forced to convert to Islam during the Assyrian Genocide which took place in 1915 during WWI. The cross demonstrated that no matter what, their faith could not be taken from them.

Prepare the Fillings

Step 1: While the dough is resting, prepare the fillings. Mix the ground walnuts with the sugar and cardamom. Do the same with the coconut filling ingredients.

cardamom and coconut being stirred in a white bowl

Note: The rose water helps the dry coconut to bind together, making it easier to work with. It also adds a classic rose flavor, but it is totally optional.

Step 2: To make the date filling, heat vegetable oil in a small saucepan. Add the date paste and sprinkle with cardamom. Stir and mix, over medium heat, until the date paste is toasted. Frying the dates really brings out their flavor!

Kileche Assembly Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 1: Divide the dough into 3 portions. One portion will be used for each filing. Any extra dough can be rolled into braids and wreaths and baked as is.

cookies on a white plate with a red background

Step 2 | Walnut Kileche Instructions: Take a small portion of dough and roll it into a ball. Flatten using your thumbs and index fingers. Mold the dough into a bowl shape and fill it with a teaspoon or two of walnut filling. Fold the dough in half and press the edges together. Make small folds all around the edges. Continue until all of the dough or filling is used up. Place the cookies on a parchment-covered cookie sheet as you make them.

a piece of dough filled with walnut filling

Step 3 | Prepare the Glaze: Whisk eggs and milk to make the glaze. Pierce Kileche a few times with a fork and brush generously with glaze. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Continue with the next filling.

a bowl with an egg, another with milk, and cookies on a tray on the side

Step 4 | Coconut Kileche Instructions: Use one tablespoon of dough, and flatten it into a circle. Fill with a few teaspoons of coconut and pinch the dough together. With the pinched portion facing up (so that it ends up on the bottom of the cookie) press and flatten into a Maamoul Mold (affiliate link). Tap mold to dislodge the coconut-filled cookie. If you don't have a mold, just shape it into a circle.

Step 5: Continue until you have used up the coconut filling, glazing, and baking as you go.

How to Make Date Kileche

Step 1: Place half of the date paste onto an approximately 24" piece of waxed paper (shiny side up). Cover with another same-sized sheet (shiny side down). Roll into a thin layer using a rolling pin.

date paste being rolled into a thin layer

Step 2: Divide the last piece of dough into two sections. Roll one of the pieces into a thin layer, approximately the same size as the date layer or a little bigger.

dough rolled out and a rolling pin next to it

Step 3: Slowly peel back one of the sheets of wax paper. Now flip and press the dates into the dough. Gently peel back the remaining sheet of wax paper.

peeling waxed paper off of kileche dough

Note: If some of the date paste sticks to the waxed paper, scrape it off using a spatula and reapply where needed. Trim off excess dough and save to make Kleicha.

Step 4: Slice dough lengthwise into two sections and roll into two long tubes. Flatten by pressing down gently with your hands. Make sure the sealed side is facing down. Cut into 2" sections with a crinkle cutter or slice with a sharp knife. Pierce, glaze, bake, and repeat.

Expert Tips

Walnut and coconut Kileche are shaped differently to identify what filling is hidden inside.
If there is extra dough remaining, it's usually rolled into braids or other shapes and baked as is.
A Maamoul Mold is used to make another Middle Eastern cookie, known as "maamoul." I like to use this awesome mold to form the coconut Kleicha.
Another fun tool, a Crinkle Cutter can be used to add a decorative edge to the date Kleicha.

a plate of Assyrian cookies with nut crackers in the background — **Kileche (Kleicha)**

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