Greek Honey and Walnut Cookies

YHey, there friends

How is everyone? Christmas is just a few days away. Is everyone ready for the holidays? First off, I would like to thank those who have sent me messages regarding my health. Thank you for your get-well wishes. I still have not fully recovered; my voice is still not 100%, and I am still a bit under the weather.   Thank you so very much!!  These Chrismas Greek Honey and Walnut Cookies are favored more so than the elegant Greek Almond Cookies.  It could be because it has syrup and honey, and maybe because it’s also a sticky cookie.  I believe both are delicious, but if I had to choose between the two the Kourambiedes  Greek Almond Cookies are my favorite.

These Greek Honey and Walnut Cookies are called Melomakarona, what are Melomakarona?  Melomakarona is made with honey, olive oil, vegetable oil, flour, and orange juice.   The warm spices used to make these cookies are cinnamon and clove which take these cookies to a completely different level of aroma and flavor.  We use two types of oil to make these specific Christmas cookies. The reason is that the cookies are lighter and don’t have that intense taste of olive oil.  In the past, cookies were made with olive oil and I never really enjoyed them because I could taste it.   Adding vegetable oil breaks down the taste and smell of the olive oil which I prefer.

Traditionally, these cookies are only made during the Christmas holidays.  If you’re in Greece around this time of year, you can smell the aroma in the air.  Walking around in any neighborhood the bakeries, pastry shops, and Greek households baking away.  🙂

Alrighty, then these are the last Christmas cookie and cake recipes for the holidays. 🙂

Have a great morning/afternoon/evening!!

Greek Honey and Walnut Cookies

foodzesty

Traditional Greek Cookies are made during Christmas time, with flour, oil, and orange juice. Dipped in a honey syrup and garnished with crushed walnuts.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snacks

Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean

Servings 75 pieces

Ingredients

  

• 1 ⅓ cup olive oil
• 1⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 8½ cups all-purpose flour sifted
• ⅔ cups orange juice
• 2 orange zest from two oranges
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp clove ground
• 1½ tbsp cinnamon powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup walnuts crushed
• 2½ cups sugar
• 2½ cups water
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 piece lemon peel

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 160C.
• Add the olive oil and the vegetable oil into a large bowl. Mix to combine. Add in the sugar, cinnamon powder, orange zest, and clove ground.
• In a separate bowl combine the sifted flour with the baking powder. Slowly incorporate the flour mix into the oil mix and stir.
• Add the baking soda to the orange juice and mix. Slowly pour the mix into the batter.
• Beat until it turns into dough
• Take a spoonful of batter shape it into an egglike shape and place it on parchment paper lined in your baking pan.
• Once the cookies are shaped use a fork and make a criss-cross on each cookie with the fork prongs. Place the cookies in the oven for 25 minutes. Set the cookies aside to cool.
• The syrup must be hot and the cookies must be cold to absorb the syrup.
• Once your cookies have cooled off start making the syrup. Add the water, sugar, cinnamon stick, lemon peel, and two tablespoons of honey. Stir and bring to a boil for about 10 minutes. Skim away any form that might form.
• Dip the cookies into the syrup and let them soak for about 30 seconds then remove and garnish with the crushed walnuts.

Keyword christmas baking, Cookies, Easy, honey, syrup, Walnuts

KALI MAS OREXI!! 🙂