Baking Greek Christmas Cookies with Yaya — Melomacarona (mel-lo-ma-CA-ro-na)
I was lucky enough to spend this Saturday making traditional Greek Christmas cookies! I have grown up eating these cookies every December – it was about time I learned how to make them. I know the cookies will never be as good as grandma’s, but a girl can try! Thank you for sharing the recipe with me yaya!
Ingredients:
Ð 1 cup butter, melted
Ð ¾ cup Mazola oil
Ð ¾ cup sugar
Ð ½ cup orange juice
Ð 1tablespoon orange rind, grated
Ð 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Ð 1 teaspoon cloves
Ð ½ cup brandy or whiskey
Ð 7 cups flour, sifted (Grandma uses 5 cups regular flour, 2 cups of Bob’s Red Mil No.1 Durum Wheat, Semolina flour)
Ð 4 teaspoons baking powder (Grandma’s uses soda)
Ð 1 cup ground walnuts and cinnamon
Ð Honey Syrup (see instructions below)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Blend together butter, oil and sugar. Mix well.
- Add orange juice, rind and brandy/whiskey. Continue beating until light and fluffy.
- Sift flour with backing powder, cinnamon and cloves. Gradually add to liquid mixture, stirring well, until all flour is used.
- Use your hands to knead dough lightly.
- Scoop up about a tablespoon of dough and form oval shaped cookies. Place on cookie sheet.
- With a fork, press in lightly (making small holes) across tops of honey cookies (it will help the Honey Syrup soak in later.)
- Bake in oven (325 degrees) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool in wire rack for 10 minutes.
- Make Honey Syrup (see directions below).
- Dip cookies into warm Honey Syrup. Lift out with slotted spoon, and sprinkle nuts and cinnamon to taste.
Honey Syrup
Ingredients
Ð 1 cup sugar
Ð 2 cups water
Ð 3/4 cup honey
Ð 1 cinnamon stick
Ð 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Ð 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
Directions:
- In a saucepan, cook all ingredients, except honey, for 10 minutes.
- Add honey and simmer for 5 more minutes.
December 26th, 2009 at 11:38 am
look yummy!