Greek Christmas Recipes: Kourambiedes & Melomakarona

Greek Christmas Recipes: Kourambiedes & Melomakarona

• Recipe for Kourabiedes
  
• Recipe for Melomakarona

Kourabiedes Greek Christmas Cookies

Recipe for Kourabiedes

INGREDIENTS:

2 kilos soft flour

1 kilo butter

300 grams powdered sugar

300 grams crushed roasted almonds

1 small glass cognac

1 teaspoon baking soda

Rosewater

Preheat oven to medium (175c).

•  Whiten the butter by beating by hand for ½ hour. Add the sugar, cognac, almonds and finally the flour, mixed with the baking soda. Continue to beat until all ingredients are well mixed.

•  Mold into the familiar shapes of the kourambiethes and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with rosewater, then roll in the powder sugar.

Melomakarona Greek Christmas Cookies

Recipe for Melomakarona

INGREDIENTS

2 cups oil

1 cup sugar

1 cup orange juice

1 cup fine semolina

1 kilo soft flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

Lemon and Orange zest

Simple syrup: (In a pot, mix together 1 cup each of water, honey and sugar and

bring to boil while stirring constantly.)

Crushed walnuts

Preheat oven to 200c

1. Beat oil well with mixer, then add the sugar, both zests, orange juice, semolina, and then, a little at a time, the flour mixed with the baking soda.
2. Form the dough into small shapes, as the pastries will get quite big while baking. Make sure the oven is hot before baking, otherwise the pastries will flatten. Bake for about 30 minutes until pastries are firm and golden brown.
3. When completely cooled, arrange in rows in a pan and pour warm syrup over them. Sprinkle with crushed walnuts.