My Baking Book

Greece

Koulourakia

The koulourakia is a traditional Greek dessert cookie, typically made at easter, to be eaten after Holy saturday. Koulourakia are well known for their distinctive ring shape. These pastries are also often shaped like small snakes by the minoans, as they worshiped the snake for it's healing powers. Now the pastries can be shaped into many diffrent shapes like braided circles, figure eights, horseshoes, twisted wreaths, or Greek letters, although they are still often shaped into a snake style. These traditional cookies are commonly eaten with morning coffee or afternoon tea, either way they are still as buttery and sweet as always .

Greek koulourakia Cookies
( yields 39 cookies )

- 1- 1/2 cups softened butter
- 1- 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5- 1/4 cups flour
- 1- 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add 2 eggs; beat well. Beat in orange juice and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refridgerate for 1 hour.

Roll dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. Shape each into a 6 inch rope, fold in half and twist twice. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets .

In a small bowl beat the remaining eggs; brush over dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Transfer to cooling rack when done .

( recipe from tasteofhome.com )