Iraqi soft Kleicha (الكليجة الهشة العراقية) is one of Iraq’s most beloved and traditional pastries, deeply tied to cultural and festive occasions. It is a delicate, melt-in-the-mouth cookie typically made from a soft dough of flour, ghee or butter, sugar, and milk or yogurt, often flavored with cardamom and sometimes rose water.
The fillings vary but the most common are:
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Date paste mixed with cardamom and sesame seeds.
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Nut mixtures such as walnuts or almonds sweetened with sugar and flavored with cinnamon.
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Coconut filling combined with sugar and flavorings.
Soft Kleicha is particularly associated with Eid celebrations, weddings, and family gatherings. The “soft” version (الهشة) is lighter and more tender compared to the slightly crisp versions found in other Iraqi regions. The cookies are typically shaped into discs or decorated with special molds that imprint traditional patterns, giving them both a delicious taste and a beautiful appearance.
This pastry holds an important cultural value in Iraq, symbolizing hospitality, joy, and heritage. Many Iraqi families abroad, especially in the United States, Canada, and Europe, continue to bake Kleicha as a way of preserving their culinary traditions and passing them on to the next generations.