Kleicha

Kleicha (Syriac: ܟܠܝܟ̰ܐ killecha, Arabic: كليچة‎) is sometimes considered the national cookie of Iraq.[5] Kleicha come in several traditional shapes and fillings. The most popular are the ones filled with dates (kleichat tamur). There are also sweet discs (khfefiyyat), as well as half moons filled with nuts, sugar and/or desiccated coconut (kleichat joz). It is consumed by Iraqis alike, of all ethnic and religious groups; Muslims, Christians, Mesopotamian Arabs, Kurds, Chaldo-Assyrian, Turkmen, Yazidis, and others.[6][7] Iraqis, from ancient times through the rule of successive Mesopotamian empires, to the present day, have been consuming Kleicha for centuries.

Najdi kleicha from Qassim

Kleicha (ܟܠܝܟ̰ܐ,كليجة‎)

Type	Cookie
Place of origin	Sumer-Babylonia, Iraq, Mesopotamia[1][2][3]
Region or state	Iraq, Syria,[4] Turkey, Middle East
Main ingredients	Dough, Nuts, Dates and Sesame
Cookbook: Kleicha (ܟܠܝܟ̰ܐ,كليجة‎)   Media: Kleicha (ܟܠܝܟ̰ܐ,كليجة‎)

They are usually flavoured with cardamom and sometimes rose water, and glazed with egg wash, which may sometimes be scented and coloured with saffron.

Assyrians bake Kilecheh on Eeda Gura, Easter, and Eeda Sura, Christmas, in which they are usually stuffed with dates and served with tea.[8]

A Turkish version is called Klija Kurabiyesi and is a sweet disc or filled with almonds, hazelnuts and sugar. It is also flavored with rose water and orange blossom water and glazed with egg wash.