How to make traditional Egyptian Gingerbread (Eid cookies).

What makes Egyptian Gingerbread (kahk) special and beloved among Egyptians?

Kahk holds special significance in Egyptian culture due to its traditional association with celebrations, especially during festive occasions like Eid. The unique flavors and cultural importance contribute to its beloved status among Egyptians.

Kahk typically has a sweet and buttery flavor, often enhanced with aromatic ingredients like sesame seeds and spices. The use of special fillings, such as dates or nuts, can also add distinct tastes to different variations of kahk. Also, it can be made plain or with a variety of fillings. Don’t forget to dust the cookies with lots and lots of powdered sugar!

What are Egyptian Eid cookies?

Originating from Egypt, kahk is a type of small, round cookie enjoyed during festive occasions like feasts, Christmas, or Ramadan.

Families from a particular neighborhood would gather together to make kahk, with every person being assigned specific tasks.
Sometimes, kahk would be prepared at home and taken to a communal bakery to be baked and cooled.
The designs stamped on kahk would also have certain meanings and stories associated with them, with kahk molds passed down from generation to generation in the family.

Some of the most common fillings are:

• Agameya: This is a classic filling made by cooking ghee (clarified butter), honey, sesame seeds, and nuts. Nuts used are usually walnuts, but almonds or pistachios can be used instead. The honey and ghee (clarified butter) are cooked till a soft and sticky, pliable dough is formed. Making agameya requires a lot of care because if it is cooked too much, it will turn hard, but if it is not cooked enough, it will be runny and ooze out of the cookies as they bake.
• Turkish delight: Another common filling for kahk is Turkish delight or malban. It is also known as lokum.
• Agwa / date paste: This sticky sweet date paste is also a popular filling for kahk, and one that I have shared in the recipe below. The date paste can be purchased from Middle Eastern supermarkets or can be made at home.
• Nuts: Kahk can also be filled with different nuts such as walnuts, almonds and pistachios. This can be in the form of whole nuts, or in the form of a nut paste.