Moroccan Honey Almond Cigars (Printable)

Crisp pastry rolls with fragrant almond paste and luscious honey coating.

# What You Need:

→ Almond Filling

01 - 8.8 oz blanched almonds
02 - 2.8 oz powdered sugar
03 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
04 - 1/4 tsp salt
05 - 2 tbsp orange blossom water
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

→ Pastry

07 - 10 sheets brick or phyllo pastry
08 - 1.8 oz unsalted butter, melted for brushing

→ Honey Syrup

09 - 7 oz honey
10 - 2 tbsp orange blossom water
11 - 1 tbsp lemon juice

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

# How To Cook:

01 - In a food processor, pulse the blanched almonds until finely ground. Add powdered sugar, cinnamon, salt, orange blossom water, and melted butter. Blend to form a soft, moldable paste.
02 - Cut the pastry sheets in half to create 20 rectangles. Keep them covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.
03 - Place a heaping tablespoon of almond filling near one short end of a pastry rectangle. Shape the filling into a log, leaving 3/4 inch at each edge. Fold the sides over the filling and roll up tightly to form a cigar shape. Brush the end with melted butter to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling.
04 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange cigars seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush all over with melted butter.
05 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
06 - While cigars bake, gently warm honey, orange blossom water, and lemon juice in a saucepan over low heat. Do not boil.
07 - Once cigars are baked, dip each one in the warm honey syrup, turning to coat, then place on a rack to drain excess syrup.
08 - Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Let cool before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • That first crispy bite giving way to soft, fragrant almond paste feels like pure magic
  • The orange blossom water creates an aroma that fills your entire kitchen while they bake
  • They look impressive but actually come together faster than you might expect
02 -
  • Work with one pastry sheet at a time and keep the rest covered because phyllo dries out in minutes
  • Do not boil the honey syrup or it will become too thick and the texture will be off
  • Let the cigars drain on the rack for at least 15 minutes or they become soggy on the bottom
03 -
  • Use room temperature butter for brushing because cold butter can tear delicate phyllo sheets
  • If the almond paste feels too sticky, chill it for 15 minutes to make handling easier

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