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Saffron Phyllo Date Rolls

An elegant twist on a favorite dessert
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time40 mins
Total Time1 hr 10 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Arabic Fusion
Keyword: date, dessert, phyllo, ramadan, roll, saffron, unique
Servings: 30 pieces
Author: Bayan
Cost: $8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Phyllo (thin pastry) Dough
  • 13 oz Date Paste or 1 Package
  • 3 tbsp melted ghee or butter
  • 3 tbsp Rose Water
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/2 cup melted ghee or butter additional
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pinch Saffron Threads
  • 1 tbsp honey or sugar

Instructions

  • Start off by preparing the saffron glaze by warming up heavy cream in a small saucepan, then adding 1tbs sugar or honey and saffron threads, set this aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a tray with parchment paper
  • Prepare the date paste first by adding 3 tbs. of melted butter, rose water, cinnamon, cardamom and mix well, set aside.
  • Melt 1/2 cup of butter or ghee and set aside in a small bowl, have a pastry brush ready on hand.
  • Open phyllo dough and begin assembling rolls immediately. Do not let pastry dry out as it will quickly become hard and difficult to roll. I like to keep a damp paper towel handy to lay over them if I need to step away.
  • For the assembly, lay out phyllo horizontally, with the wide side facing you. Brush the lower half of the pastry with ghee and fold it over to make a long rectangle.
  • Next, brush the lower half once more and fold again to make a thinner rectangle. Cut this in half as this will become two date rolls.
  • Add about a teaspoon of the date paste mixture to the thin edge of one of the rectangular pieces and begin rolling. Lay out close to one another on parchment lined tray.
  • Finally, brush remaining butter over the phyllo rolls, if there is not leftover butter, simply melt an additional 1/4 cup of butter or ghee.
  • Place in preheated oven in the center rack for 25 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and spoon over saffron heavy cream over the warm rolls and place back in oven for additional 10 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  • Cool well before enjoying.