Kwarezimal - Maltese Almond Biscuits
Discover Kwarezimal, a traditional Maltese sweet baked during Lent, using dates, oats, and almonds, honoring historical Lenten customs.
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 500 g ground almonds
- 100 g oatmeal ground
- 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Wet Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 3 tablespoons orange blossom water
- 50 ml water added gradually
- 8 dates chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon grated
- Zest of 1 orange grated
- Zest of 2 mandarins grated
- Juice of 1 orange
Topping
- Honey
- Crushed roasted almonds or pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180˚C.
- In a food processor, combine the ground almonds, oatmeal, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda. Mix well.
- Add the chopped dates into the food processor.
- Add all the wet ingredients.
- Add 50ml water, gradually. Blend until a dough ball forms.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Shape the dough into rectangular cakes and flatten on the tray.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until lightly golden.
- While still hot, brush cakes with honey and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
- Allow to cool before serving.