MELOMAKARONA ME ELAIOLATHO This is one Peloponnesian version of a traditional Christmas cookie. The region’s telltale ingredient, olive oil, replaces butter in this recipe. Sometimes, Greek cooks will do that—replace butter with oil, that is—to transform a sweet into something permissable for fasting. In the Peloponnesos, though, the use of olive oil is the norm rather than the exception. Ingredients: For […]

Melomakarona Yemista me Sousami Melomakarona (also called “phoenikia”) are a traditional Greek cookie, a favorite at Christmas. Most recipes call for the cookie to be dipped in a honey-based syrup, but this recipe calls for a powdered sugar, nut, and spice topping. Since they have no syrup, they can be easily stored in tins or plastic […]

Kourabiethes me Amygthala & Kanela In Greek: κουραμπιέδες με αμύγδαλα και κανέλα, say: koo-rahb-YEH-thes meh ah-MEEGH-thah-lah keh kah-NEH-lah Kourabiethes are celebration cookies: they are prepared at Christmas, baptisms, and weddings. This recipe for these shortbread-type cookies is packed with toasted almonds, includes the taste of cinnamon, and calls for the traditional coating of lots of confectioner’s […]

Christmas Recipes Christ or Christmas Bread – Christopsomo Christmas Bread – Christopsomo from Peloponniso Brandy Sugar Biscuits – Kourabiethes Syrup-Drenched Nut and Spice Cookies with Olive Oil Shortbread Cookies from Levithi Lenten Sugared Shortbread Cookies with Almonds Sugared Cookies with Almonds & Cinnamon Sugared Shortbread Cookies with Walnuts Christmas Pudding – Xristougenniatiki Poutinga Christmas Sesame […]

Coffee Cake-Style Cakes (9) Cookies & Biscotti (16) Donuts, Puffs, and Other Fried Dough Sweets (12) Ices & Ice Creams (4) Pancakes & Crepes (3) Amigdalota (Greek Almond Macaroons) Apple Baklava Greek and Cypriot Jam recipes Greek Ek Mek Sweet – Ekmek Kataifi Custard in Fillo Pastry – Galaktoboureko Christmas Pudding – Xristougenniatiki Poutinga Greek Lemon & Yogurt Cake – […]

In Greek: κουλουράκια Χριστουγέννων, pronounced koo-loo-RAHK-yahkhree-stoo-YEH-non These wreath-shaped yeast sesame cookie rings are made once a year in certain areas of the Greek island of Crete: at Christmas. The cookies are made with the traditional Christmas tastes of cinnamon, cloves, and orange, and they contain no dairy products or eggs. Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: […]

If I were pressed to name one Greek cookie that reminds me of Christmas, this would be it. This is an oil-based cookie recipe that produces moist cake-like cookies flavored with orange and brandy that are bathed in a sweet honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts. This recipe was given to me by my Thea […]

Recipes for Greek cookies include delicious voutimata (biscotti dunking cookies), sugary holiday confections, and those made with fabulous combinations of spices and nuts. Koulourakia – Greek Butter Cookies with Sesame The name for Koulourakia comes from their round twisted shape but you will also see them shaped as small braids or in the shape of the letter […]