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Carob Molasses Kaak Recipe

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3.9 from 10 reviews

Carob Molasses Kaak, also known as Kaak Bil Dibs, is a traditional Middle Eastern cookie featuring a tender, slightly sweet dough enriched with fragrant spices and naturally sweet carob molasses. These ring-shaped cookies are lightly baked to achieve a pale golden color, offering a unique caramel-like flavor and a soft yet chewy texture, perfect for tea time or festive occasions.

  • Total Time: 24 minutes
  • Yield: 30 servings

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 cup farina (called in Arabic theen farkha)
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon mahlab
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sunflower oil
  • 1 cup carob molasses

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven temperature to 170°C (340°F) to ensure it reaches the right heat level by the time the dough is prepared.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients and Form Dough: In a large bowl, combine farina, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, mahlab, and cinnamon powder. Stir these together thoroughly. Then add the sunflower oil and carob molasses. Gently knead with your hands until the dough forms a soft, cohesive ball. If it feels too sticky, incorporate a small pinch of flour carefully to avoid toughening the dough.
  3. Shape the Dough Balls: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough into equal portions roughly the size of a ping pong ball or slightly smaller.
  4. Form Circular Cookies: Roll each dough ball with the palm of your hand into a rope about 7 cm (2.5 inches) long. Pinch the ends of the rope together to form a closed circle. Place each ring onto the prepared baking sheet, ensuring there is space between each cookie to allow for even baking.
  5. Bake the Kaak: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-17 minutes, or until the cookies turn a pale golden color. Watch carefully as carob molasses can burn easily. To check doneness, gently lift one cookie and verify it is just slightly browned on the bottom.
  6. Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a serving plate.

Notes

  • Be cautious with the flour addition when kneading to avoid a tough dough.
  • Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
  • Keep a close eye while baking as the carob molasses can burn quickly due to its natural sugars.
  • Allow cookies to cool fully to achieve the optimal texture.
  • Mahlab is a Middle Eastern spice made from ground cherry pits and adds a distinctive aroma; it can be omitted if unavailable but it does affect authenticity and flavor.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 7 minutes
  • Cook Time: 17 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/carob-molasses-kaak-recipe/