Dates Cookies

A derivation of Pineapple Tarts but with a slight difference - it has dates or kurma as a filling. It is popularly known as Bantal Pelok Saloma.  Literally translated, Bantal Peluk means pillow hug, whereas Saloma is a very well-known malay actress in the olden days.

Ingredients (yields 50 pcs):
250 g soft butter
2 egg yolks
about 400 g plain flour
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch of salt
1/4 cup water

500 g soft, dried and stoned dates
egg yolk, for brushing

Method:
In a mixing bowl, beat butter, egg yolks and water together.  Then, add in vanilla essence, salt and flour.  Continue kneading until a pliable dough is formed.

Take about 1 tbsp of dough and flatten it on the palm of your hand.  Place a date in the middle and enclose it with the dough on all sides OR you can just roll the dough to enclose the date with open ends.  To achieve a design on it, I used a wooden butter roller as shown below:

Place on baking tray and brush top with beaten egg yolk.  Bake in a preheated fan oven (150° C) for about 30 minutes.  Leave to cool down completely before storing in tin, placing a pergament paper for each layer.

Happy Baking!