Immerse yourself in the delectable world of Kourabiedes, the quintessential Greek Christmas cookies renowned for their melt-in-your-mouth texture and delicate flavors. These cookies, hailing from the heart of Greece, hold a special place in the nation's culinary heritage. Kourabiedes are characterized by their crescent shape and generous dusting of powdered sugar, adding an ethereal touch to their golden-brown exterior. Embark on a delightful journey as we explore two enticing variations of this beloved treat: the traditional Kourabiedes and the delectable Chocolate Kourabiedes.
1. **Traditional Kourabiedes:**
- Discover the classic Kourabiedes recipe, a testament to the enduring charm of simplicity. These cookies are a symphony of butter, sugar, flour, and almonds, complemented by the subtle hint of orange zest and a liberal coating of powdered sugar. Experience the harmonious blend of flavors and textures in every bite, from the richness of butter to the nutty crunch of almonds.
2. **Chocolate Kourabiedes:**
- Indulge in the irresistible fusion of chocolate and Kourabiedes in this captivating variation. This recipe takes the traditional delight to new heights, infusing it with the richness of cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Prepare to be mesmerized by the symphony of flavors, where the bitterness of chocolate elegantly complements the sweetness of the cookie. The result is a delectable treat that will tantalize your taste buds.
KOURAMBIETHES
My daughter-in-law gave me this recipe. Her grandmother was born in Greece and bakes these cookies for special occasions, including Christmas.-Carol Dale, Greenville, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 55m
Yield 5 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place almonds in an ungreased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° until lightly browned, 5-10 minutes, stirring several times. When cool, process in a food processor until finely chopped; set aside. , In a large bowl, cream butter and 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk, whiskey or juice and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and reserved almonds; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Shape tablespoonfuls of dough into 3-in. logs. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets; shape into crescents. Bake at 350° until set and bottoms are lightly browned, 14-18 minutes. , Carefully roll warm cookies in remaining confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks. Sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 128 calories, Fat 7g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 51mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
KOURABIEDES (GREECE): WALNUT SUGAR COOKIES
These are a Greek celebration cookie - while they're most popular at Christmas, you also see them at weddings, Easter and other holidays as well. They're almost always served with a powdered sugar topping; at Christmas, it's traditional to stick a whole clove in the top to represent the gift of spices that the Three Wise Men brought to Bethlehem.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 1h50m
Yield about 2 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Toast the walnuts until golden brown and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then chop about half of the nuts (you should have about 1/2 cup chopped). Pulse the remaining nuts in the food processor until finely ground (about 1/4 cup ground).
- Stir the flour, baking powder, salt and nuts together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg yolk, brandy and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture gets light and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
- At low speed, stir in the nut mixture to make a crumbly dough. Cover the bowl and set dough aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or coat with nonstick spray.
- With a tablespoon, scoop out 1-inch pieces of dough and roll into balls between the palms of your hands. Pinch the ends of the balls to make a football shape. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies set and start to brown, about 18 minutes.
- Remove cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle them lightly with the orange water. (If you don't have a brush, simply dip your fingers into the water and flick it over the cookies a few times.) Take care not to douse them, just enough for them to carry the scent of flowers.
- Put the confectioners' sugar in a bag, and add 5 to 6 of the warm cookies to it. Very gently toss the cookies to coat with sugar. Remove them from the bag and cool cookies on a rack. Repeat with remaining cookies. Serve.
- Busy baker's tips: Dough can be frozen for up to 2 weeks. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Baked cookies can be wrapped in plastic, then aluminum foil, for up to 2 weeks. To serve, let cookies come to room temperature before dusting with confectioners' sugar.
- Cook's Note: If you can't find orange flower water, try specialty stores or online.
- Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved
KOURAMBIETHES
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and brandy.
- Gradually only add enough flour to make a soft dough. Chill.
- Shape dough into crescents or 1 1/2 inch balls. (If using cloves, place one in each cookie before baking.)
- Place on ungreased sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. They won't be brown.
- Cool for 4 to 5 minutes and then sift powdered sugar over them.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 981 kcal, Carbohydrate 88 g, Cholesterol 224 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 12 g, SaturatedFat 39 g, Sodium 24 mg, Sugar 16 g, Fat 64 g, ServingSize 6 dozen (6 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
KOURAMBIEDES (A GREEK CHRISTMAS COOKIE)
Basically a Greek butterball cookie recipe. These, with Melomakarona, are found in every Greek home during the Christmas Holidays. I go through phases. One year, or for a couple of years, these are my favourites, then Melomakarona are, and I keep switching back and forth. They're both wonderful! These keep wonderfully, long after Christmas is over, if any are left.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories Dessert
Time 30m
Yield 30-40 cookies, 30-40 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer for 15 minutes, until it begins to turn white. Mix in the baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the egg yolks, the brandy, vanilla extract, and gradually add the flour, until you have a dough that is neither too soft nor too firm (you may need to add slightly more than the amount I've written); stir in the almonds.
- Let the dough stand for an hour at room temperature, covered with a clean dish towel.
- Next, with small amounts (about 1 1/2 teaspoons of dough), shape small rounds by gently rolling the dough around between the palms of your hands.
- Arrange the round cookies on a buttered pan and flatten ever so slightly on top with your hand.
- Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes.
- Immediately upon removing the kourambiedes from the oven, sprinkle them with rose water (or orange water or ouzo. I do this by putting a small amount of the liquid in a bowl, wetting my fingertips, and shaking the droplets over the hot cookies a few times. The scented water or ouzo gives the cookies a very delicate fragrance).
- Roll the hot cookies in icing sugar to cover and let cool.
- When cool, arrange on a pretty holiday platter, sieving more icing sugar between the cookie layers to give a snowdrift effect.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 215.8, Fat 16.3, SaturatedFat 8.2, Cholesterol 43.6, Sodium 184.7, Carbohydrate 15.1, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 4.3, Protein 3
KOURABIEDES (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES)
I had to bake something from my heritage for school. So, I made this heavenly kourabiedes recipe. -Rebecca Sprague, St. Louis, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h
Yield about 5 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually stir into butter mixture until blended (mixture will be crumbly). , Shape heaping tablespoons of dough into crescents. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool 15 minutes., Place remaining sugar in a small bowl. Toss slightly cooled cookies in sugar; return cookies to wire rack to cool completely. , Toss cookies in sugar once more before serving. Store in an airtight container, adding any remaining confectioners' sugar to cover cookies.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 128 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 3mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
KOURAMBIATHES/GREEK COOKIES
No other cookie is as well known than the Greek Kourambiathes, a traditional cookies that is rolled in powder sugar & known as the "Wedding Cake" at all Greek Orthodox weddings! This one is served along with the usual wedding ck., and represents good luck. They are also popular at baptism's/engagement/ birthday's & names days! It...
Provided by Anita Kalpedis
Categories Cookies
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. In mixer, cream butter & sugars until light & fluffy, about 5 min., then add one ingredient at a time; egg, booze (don't worry the alcohol bakes off), vanilla & nut.s. Add the salt, gradually add the flour, mix to form a soft but not sticky dough. Let it rest for 5-10 min..cove with plastic wrap. Hint; I usually start cleaning up during this time, then have a sip of brandy! LOl
- 2. Turn on oven to 350*F. Now, remove bowl from stand, pinch off small amounts at a time (have un-greased baking sheet ready with parchment paper) shape into oval, round half-moon shapes, place 1 inch apart. Bake for 15-25 minutes (depending on size)or until brown on the bottom.
- 3. In the meantime take a bowl, insert a plastic bag and put half bag of powder sugar. While the cookies are still warm,roll them in the sugar bowl (I use this method, less damage / mess)allow to cool on a tray lined with parchment paper & dusted with sifted p.sugar, then sift more powder sugar over them. That's it! Let stand uncovered for 24-48 hours to make sure they dry. Once they are dry, you can place them in a sealed container, powder sugar/cookies/wax paper, repeat. Store in a cool dark space. When it comes time to serve, place them on a platter/p. sugared or in cupcake papers. Remember to sift with p.sugar to look their best!
- 4. That's it! Opa! I hope you enjoy this recipe, it's a special one indeed. Many claim to bake Greek, but they always skip the traditional ingredients! I use Brandy, you can also try Mataxa or Ouzo! Yiasou
GREEK BUTTER COOKIES (KOURABIEDES)
Traditionally baked for Christmas and Easter festivities, these buttery shortbread cookies call for a trio of classic Greek ingredients: almonds, honey, and a special liqueur made from the resin of the mastic tree.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes about 45
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together flour, almonds, confectioners' sugar, and salt into a medium bowl.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and honey on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in vanilla and lemon zest. (It may not come together fully until you add flour mixture.) Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture, alternating with mastiha.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough; roll into a ball. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until brown around edges, about 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool completely. Roll cookies in confectioners' sugar until thoroughly coated. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
GREEK CHRISTMAS COOKIES (KOURAMBIEDES)
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories dessert
Time 1h20m
Yield 3 1/2 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter and salt and whip until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar, egg, brandy, and vanilla and beat until all of the ingredients are integrated. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add sifted flour to the butter mixture. Using a rubber spatula, remove the dough and transfer it onto a piece of waxed paper or parchment. Refrigerate for about 45 minutes before rolling.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- After the dough has cooled, pinch off small pieces and roll them into about 1-inch balls. Place them in a single layer with space in between each, on a greased baking sheet. Repeat the process until all of the cookie dough has been rolled. Place a clove in the center of each cookie. Alternatively, shape the ball into half moons with a clove in the center of each.
- Place the sheets in the oven and bake until the cookies are just slightly brown, about 15 minutes. Allow them to cool thoroughly, and then roll them in powdered sugar.
KOURAMBIETHES
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 1h30m
Yield about 3 1/2 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Beat butter for 10 minutes with electric mixer until very light and creamy. Beat the egg yolks and vanilla in a separate bowl until lemon-colored, 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup sugar and beat for 10 minutes. Add egg mixture to butter and add brandy and the flour, a little bit at a time, until dough is soft.
- Shape tablespoonfuls of dough into small crescents or balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until very lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes on the baking sheets. Sprinkle liberally with sifted confectioners' sugar while the cookies are still warm. Continue to cool to room temperature.
- Cook's Note: If the dough gets too warm and sticky while rolling the balls, re-chill it before continuing.
KOURAMBIETHES (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES)
Make and share this Kourambiethes (Greek Butter Cookies) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Cleanfreshcuisine
Categories Dessert
Time 32m
Yield 36 Cookies, 36 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat together butter and the 4 Tablespoons of powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Beat in egg. Add whiskey, vanilla and almond extract. Beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add to mixture; stir in, do not beat. Dough should be soft but not sticky.
- Pinch off one inch balls of dough and shape into crescents. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until bottom is lightly browned.
- Place cookies on wire rack and let cool for about 5 to 6 minutes. Roll in additional powdered sugar. This easy recipe makes 3 dozen cookies.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 97.8, Fat 5.4, SaturatedFat 3.3, Cholesterol 18.7, Sodium 76.2, Carbohydrate 10.3, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 0.9, Protein 1.5
KOURABIETHES - GREEK BUTTER COOKIES
A recipe I found on Whippedtheblog.com. Here is what is stated about the cookies: "These Greek little balls of heaven are a Christmas special. My husband who is half Greek makes them every year. In the bakeries of Greece, the Kourabiethes are piled up high and deep and look like a mound of little snowballs. My trusty, old-school Greek cookbook reads, "Kourabiethes are the national cookies of the Greeks for Christmas and New Year's Day."
Provided by diner524
Categories Dessert
Time 30m
Yield 30-40 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter and 1 cup sugar until very light and fluffy. stir in egg yolk and brandy. Mix sifted flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Mix in the flour and baking powder a little at a time until dough no longer sticks to your fingers. If you are adding the almonds, chop them up into fine pieces. Mix them in while mixing in flour, accomodating for the extra ingredient and not letting the cookies get too dry. Knead well until dough is smooth and can easily be rolled into balls. Take small pieces of dough and shape into balls or small crescents. Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet or on a lightly greased sheet. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until very light brown. While still warm, brush very lightly with orange flower or rose water. Roll in confectioner's sugar and set on a tray or plate. Use the remaining sugar to sift over top until well covered.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the cookies will be. Use real butter, fresh eggs, and high-quality flour.
- Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies keep their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Bake the cookies at the right temperature: The ideal temperature for baking kourambiethes is 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). If the oven is too hot, the cookies will brown too quickly and may burn. If the oven is too cool, the cookies will not cook through.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them: This will help them keep their shape and prevent them from becoming soggy.
Conclusion:
Kourambiethes are a delicious and festive Greek cookie that are perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be customized with different flavors and toppings. If you are looking for a unique and delicious cookie to try, kourambiethes are a great option.
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