DATES FILLING RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat softened butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in vanilla and eggs until well blended. On low speed, beat in flour and baking soda until well combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Dough will be soft. Divide dough into 4 pieces; flatten each piece, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until dough is firm and cold.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix Filling ingredients. Heat to boiling; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is darkened in color and thickens slightly. Pour filling mixture into small bowl; refrigerate uncovered until ready to use (mixture will thicken as it cools).
• Heat oven to 375°F. Remove 1 piece of chilled dough from refrigerator, and unwrap. On work surface generously sprinkled with flour, roll out dough with floured rolling pin to 1/8 inch thick. Using floured 2 1/2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds. In half of the rounds, cut out and remove 1-inch round or desired shape of hole from center. Place whole rounds on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Spoon 1 generous teaspoonful cooled filling onto center of each round; top with cut out dough round. With fingertips or floured fork, press edges of dough to seal. Return dough centers and leftover dough to refrigerator for rerolling.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
• Meanwhile, repeat steps on assembling and baking with each portion of refrigerated dough, refrigerated leftover dough and remaining filling.
• Cool cookies completely, about 1 hour. Store covered in airtight container.

Steps:

• Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper, set aside.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and 1 tablespoon sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. On low speed, gradually beat in flour. On large piece of plastic wrap, form dough into 10x5-inch rectangle. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, stir together chopped dates, 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons sugar. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool 5 minutes. Stir in orange peel, vanilla and walnuts; set aside.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Cut dough in half into 2 squares. On floured surface, roll out 1 square of dough into 10-inch square. Using fluted pastry wheel, trim edges; cut into twenty-five 2-inch squares. Spoon 1 teaspoon date mixture onto center of each 2-inch square. Bring 2 opposite corners of dough together, partially overlapping and covering date mixture. Using fingers dipped in water, press dough to seal. Arrange 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Repeat with other half of dough.
• In small bowl, beat egg white and 1 tablespoon water; brush onto dough wraps. Sprinkle with coarse white sparkling sugar.
• Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until edges begin to turn golden brown. Cool 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.