Koulourakia, also known as Greek honey and anise twists, are a traditional Greek pastry with a unique and delectable flavor. They are made with a combination of simple ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and anise flavoring. These delicious treats are a staple in Greek households, often served during holidays, celebrations, and family gatherings. With their golden brown color, crispy texture, and sweet aroma, koulourakia are a true delight to the senses. Join us as we explore the best recipe for creating these delightful Greek honey and anise twists, unraveling the secrets of their irresistible taste and texture.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
EASY EASTER GREEK COOKIES: KOULOURAKIA RECIPE
These easily recognizable traditional Greek Cookies, aka Koulourakia, are often associated with Greek Easter. Once you taste these not too sweet, slightly crunchy on the outside and tender soft on the inside biscuits, with just a subtle hint of orange and vanilla, you will be making Koulourakia throughout the year.
Provided by Maria Vannelli RD
Categories Dessert
Time 1h13m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place rack in the center of oven. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder and set aside. (see recipe note).
- Place the sugar and the orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixture. Rub these two ingredients together for 2-3 minutes with your fingertips. Notice the change in color and aroma as the sugar absorbs the oils from the orange.
- Add the room temperature butter with the paddle attachment, beat until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.
- Add the eggs, one at a time beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl between each addition.
- Add the egg yolk and again, beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the milk, orange juice, vanilla extract, and ouzo (if using), beat together for 30 seconds. The mixture will appear curdled.
- At low speed, add the 3½ cups of flour and baking powder. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add a few tablespoons of flour if the dough is still sticky.
- Optional: cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes before rolling.
- With a medium-sized cookie scoop, portion all the dough. You should have 40 smalls balls of dough, each weighing 25 grams.
- Roll each ball of dough into a 7-inch log. Shape into desired shapes (braids, pinwheels, twists, etc.) Refer to the pictures in the post.
- Place on parchment-lined cookie sheets about 1 inch apart.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the underneath of the cookies turns golden brown.
- OPTIONAL: During the last minute of the baking, switch to broil for the tops to become slightly golden.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to completely cool down.
- Can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks. Cookies can also be frozen.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 86 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 3 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 23 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 2 g
KOULOURAKIA RECIPE (GREEK EASTER COOKIES)
The fluffiest and crunchiest traditional Greek Easter cookies recipe (koulourakia) you have ever made! These sweet little Greek Easter cookies are super quick to bake, so much fun to make and highly addictive to eat! Discover how to bake them to perfection with this traditional Greek recipe.
Provided by Eli K. Giannopoulos
Categories Dessert
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- To prepare this traditional koulourakia recipe, start by mixing the butter and sugar. In a mixer's bowl add the sugar and butter (chopped) and mix for about 10-15 minutes, until the butter is creamy and fluffy. (Once starting to prepare this koulourakia recipe, make sure that the butter is at room temperature).
- In the meantime warm the milk until lukewarm and remove the pot from the heat. Add the ammonia and whisk until fully dissolved. Set aside.
- , whilst mixing, allowing time for each one to be absorbed, before adding another. Pour in the the vanilla extract, the orange zest and the milk & ammonia blend and mix to combine. Add the flour, a little bit at a time, whilst mixing, until the ingredients are combined and the dough is soft and not too sticky.
- Cover the dough for the koulourakia with some plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.
- Place the dough for the koulourakia on a clean working surface, take a small piece of dough and form long cords. Shape the koulourakia with your hands, giving them any shape you like.
- Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and place the koulourakia, leaving some distance between them as they will rise a lot when baked. For this koulourakia recipe, you will need approx. 4-5 large baking trays, depending on the size of the cookies you make.
- In a small bowl add the egg yolks and 1 tbsp water and whisk with a fork. Brush the top of the koulourakia and bake in preheated oven at 200C/400F fan for 15-20 minutes, until fully cooked and golden brown on the outside (or the ammonia would not have been fully used up).
- Let the koulourakia cool down completely on a cooling rack and store in airtight containers for up to three weeks.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cookie, Calories 88kcal, Sugar 3.9g, Sodium 4.9mg, Fat 3g, SaturatedFat 1.7g, UnsaturatedFat 1.1g, TransFat 0g, Carbohydrate 13.6g, Fiber 0.4g, Protein 1.7g, Cholesterol 19.5mg
KOULOURAKIA - GREEK BUTTER COOKIES
Koulourakia (or Koulouria) are one of the most revered traditional Greek desserts. Growing up in a Greek community, friends always offer the sweet butter-based cookies as a casual afternoon snack; they are also fixtures at every celebration, and on every holiday spread. Koulourakia are most often associated with Easter, but I don't think I've attended a holiday party in a Greek household where they didn't make an appearance.
Provided by Christina Xenos
Categories Breakfast
Time 1h55m
Yield 80+ cookies
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cream butter until light and fluffy.
- Add sugar and beat the mixture until it lightens in color and is creamy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Stop mixer and scrape down bowl.
- Add the whisky, vanilla, and orange juice.
- Turn mixer tow low speed. Combine the baking powder, baking soda, and salt with 1 cup of flour, and add it to the mixer. Scrape down bowl.
- Gradually beat in 3-4 additional cups of flour until a soft dough forms and the dough starts to release from the sides of the bowl. You want it to be a soft - not stiff dough - so once it starts pulling away from the sides of the mixing bowl, stop adding flour.
- Cover in plastic and let rest for 30 min. This step can be done a day ahead. Resting and refrigerating the dough is essential, or else you won't be able to roll out the cookies.
- Once the dough has chilled, form the cookies by taking a heaping teaspoon of dough and rolling it into a 5 to 6-inch long piece. Fold in half and twist together.
- Place 1 inch apart on a parchment or greased foil- lined baking sheet. Continue until all twists are formed.
- Whisk together 1 large egg with 1 tablespoon milk and glaze cookies with a pastry brush. Top with sesame seeds (optional).
- Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until golden in color. If you're baking multiple cookie sheets at once, place one on the top rack and one underneath and switch half way through.
- Remove to a rack and cool. Store in covered containers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 74.28 kcal, Fat 3.92 g, TransFat 0.14 g, Cholesterol 15.81 mg, Carbohydrate 8.68 g, Protein 1.08 g, Fiber 0.24 g, Sugar 3.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.29 g, Sodium 40.8 mg
GREEK HONEY AND ANISE TWISTS (KOULOURAKIA)
Traditionally, these Greek cookies, known as koulourakia, are formed into rings, twists and half circles. In this recipe, they are shaped into bow ties and twists, then glazed with anise-flavored honey. These are delicately sweet and nice with coffee.
Categories Cookies Mixer Dessert Bake Lemon Honey Anise Sesame Bon Appétit Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes about 5 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Mix honey, 2 tablespoons liqueur and juice in small bowl. Set glaze aside.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter baking sheets. Combine flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in remaining 2 tablespoons liqueur, aniseed and lemon peel. Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
- Working with 1 tablespoon dough at a time, roll dough between palms and work surface into 7-inch ropes. Form into bow ties or twists. Place on prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Brush glaze over cookies. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake cookies until pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks. Lightly brush cookies again with glaze. Cool. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week, or freeze up to 1 month.)
KOULOURAKIA "GREEK TWISTS"
Add an additional 1/4 stick unsalted butter if you want a moister cookie. 1 pound of shortening can be substituted for the 1/2 pound of unsalted butter if desired.
Provided by Ralph Bischoff
Categories Cookies
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. Melt Butter and beat until smooth. Add eggs (one at a time) beating after each addition. Combine milk to sugar and stir until dissolved. Add butter to mixture and keep beating.
- 2. Blend baking powder with 1 cup flour and add to butter mixture. Add cinnamon, vanilla and anise and beat slightly. Gradually add mixture to remaining flour, knead it by hand until a stiff dough is formed. Shape as desired; place on a greased cookie sheet; brush tops with an additional beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees until golden brown ( 10 to 15 minutes)
- 3. I make a small ball and then roll it out until I get a stick about 3/8" in dia and 6" long. Makes 6 to 8 dozen depending on thickness. "MAKE AN ONX"
IRENE'S SWEET KOULOURAKIA
Steps:
- All the ingredients should be at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cream the butter for 5 minutes in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar to the mixture and beat another 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs and beat until blended. Add the orange juice and the vanilla extract.
- In a large bowl combine the baking powder and baking soda with about 1 cup of flour and stir in the egg mixture slowly. Add the remaining cups of flour gradually. The dough is ready when it leaves the sides of your mixing bowl completely. The dough is soft and pliable.
- Using a Swedish meatball scoop, begin cutting balls out of the dough. Roll out the dough balls in long rope like portions, fold over in half and twist. Place the cookies on a greased baking pan.
- Beat the 2 eggs in a small bowl to make the glaze. Brush the cookies on the pan with the glaze and bake in the oven for 25 minutes until golden brown.
KOULOURAKIA (GREEK SESAME TWIST COOKIES)
These are called Koulourakia in Greece, and is traditionally served at Easter and Christmas time, but they are wonderful to make at any time. After you have twisted the dough 4-5 times you can shape it into any shape you desire before baking, I shape it into a candy cane form for Christmas. Store these in an airtight container
Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz
Categories Dessert
Time 54m
Yield 30-35 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Set oven to 350°F.
- Grease a cookie sheet/s.
- In a bowl using an electric mixer beat 1/2 cup butter, 6 tablespoons butter, oil and orange zest until very well blended (about 4 minutes).
- Add in 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until blended (about 2 minutes).
- In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder and baking soda; add into the creamed ingredients alternately with the orange juice.
- Divide the dough into six balls.
- Roll out one piece of dough on a lightly floured surface into about a 15-inch long rope.
- Fold rope lengthwise in half.
- Twist folded rope 4-5 times.
- Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Brush the cookies with egg glaze and then sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until light golden brown.
- Cool completely before storing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 160.2, Fat 7.7, SaturatedFat 3.8, Cholesterol 28.3, Sodium 77.9, Carbohydrate 20.6, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 7.8, Protein 2.2
GREEK HOLIDAY COOKIES
Koulourakia are a traditional treat in Greece, where they are usually made for Easter and other celebrations. I enjoy making these buttery, golden Greek cookies to keep me in touch with my heritage. -Nicole Moskou, New York, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 40m
Yield 6-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. 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 refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle., Roll dough into 1-1/4-in. balls. Shape each into a 6-in. rope; fold in half and twist twice. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , In a small bowl, beat the remaining 2 eggs; brush over dough. Bake at 350° for 7-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire racks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 79 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 53mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
Tips:
- Chill the dough before baking: This helps the cookies to hold their shape and prevents them from spreading too much.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the dough: This will give you clean, even cuts.
- Bake the cookies until they are golden brown: This will ensure that they are cooked through.
- Let the cookies cool completely before serving: This will allow them to set and develop their full flavor.
Conclusion:
These delicious Greek honey and anise twists are a perfect treat for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you are looking for a sweet snack or a festive dessert, these cookies are sure to please. So next time you are craving something sweet, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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