How To Make Greek Christmas Cookies - Fenikia

ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ

Which means Merry Christmas in Greek. These cookies are one of my dad’s favorites and every year yia-yia’s (Greek for grandma) drop some off at our house and my dad looks like a happy little kid. I thought this year I’d make him some for Christmas and send them to him. It’ll be a surprise he never expected, but don’t worry I also bought him a gift just in case things went bad. I’ve never made them before, so fingers crossed. The recipe is from my mom and her old sacred Greek cookbook. Look at this thing! It looks magical, doesn’t it?!

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups flour

1 heaping tbsp. of baking powder

1 cups vegetable oil

½ cup butter, melted

½ cup orange juice

½ cup sugar

¼ cup walnuts, chopped

½ ounce cognac or brandy

Syrup (below)

Chopped nuts

Instructions

Sift together flour and baking powder. In a large bowl combine oil and melted butter. Add orange juice, sugar, ½ cup of chopped nuts, and cognac. Gradually mix the flour into the oil and butter mixture by hand and knead until a dough is formed that does not stick to the hands. Add more flour if necessary. Shape into small ovals, place on ungreased baking sheets, and bake in a 400-degree oven for 10 minutes. * Measuring the dough with a 1 tbsp yielded an even size to shape the cookies.* Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees and continue to bake for 25 minutes longer or until well browned. Keep syrup simmering while adding 3 or 4 cookies at a time. Allow them to remain in the syrup for 2 to 3 minutes, remove, and place again on baking sheets to drain. Sprinkle with chopped nuts at once. Store in airtight tins when cooled. These cookies may be baked in advance and stored and dipped into the syrup as needed.

Yields: 6 dozen small cookies

Syrup

Combine 6-ounces of honey, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cups water, and juice of 1/4 lemon. Bring to a boil and boil for 15 minutes.

Hope you enjoy the family traditions that I share with you all! It’s so hard to be away from family during the holidays and this definitely helps me feel a bit closer to them. Be safe, eat good food, and enjoy the Holidays!

ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ!