Experience the festive flavors of Greece with Melomakarona, traditional Christmas cookies infused with the warmth of cinnamon and a rich honey syrup. These delightful treats are a staple during the holidays, offering a perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and citrusy notes. Follow this simple recipe to bring a touch of Greek tradition to your Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
For the syrup:
🍯 500 g Honey
🍬 1 kg Granulated Sugar
💧 700 g Water
🍋 Juice of half a Lemon
🌿 2 Cinnamon Sticks
For the cookie dough:
🫒 1 & 1/2 cup Olive Oil e.g., Gaea Greek Olive Oil
🌽 1 & 1/2 cup Corn Oil
🍬 1 cup Granulated Sugar
🍊 1 cup Fresh Orange Juice
🍊 Zest of 2 Oranges
🥃 1/2 cup Cognac e.g., Metaxa
🌾 8 cups All-Purpose Flour
🌾 2 cups Fine Semolina
🥄 2 tsp Baking Powder
🥄 1 tsp Baking Soda
🥄 1 tsp Ammonia Powder
🌿 1 tsp Clove Powder
🌿 2 tsp Cinnamon Powder
🧂 A pinch of Salt
🌰 150 g Chopped Walnuts
Instructions
1- Prepare the Syrup:
- In a saucepan, combine 500 g honey, 1 kg sugar, and 700 g water. Heat the mixture over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Add the juice of half a lemon and 2 cinnamon sticks. Continue to boil for 3-4 minutes.
- Once done, set the syrup aside to cool completely.
2- Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 & 1/2 cups olive oil, 1 & 1/2 cups corn oil, and 1 cup sugar. Mix well until the sugar starts to dissolve.
- Add 1 cup of orange juice, zest of 2 oranges, and 1/2 cup of cognac. Mix until you have a uniform mixture.
- In another bowl, mix 8 cups of flour, 2 cups fine semolina, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ammonia powder, 1 tsp clove powder, 2 tsp cinnamon powder, and a pinch of salt.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring continuously to form a smooth dough.
- Fold in 150 g chopped walnuts.
3- Shape and Bake the Cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F).
- Form the dough into small oval shapes, placing them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown.
4- Soak in Syrup:
- Once baked, immediately soak the hot cookies in the cooled syrup. Let them absorb the syrup for a few minutes on each side.
- Remove and allow the cookies to rest on a rack until they are completely cool and ready to serve.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: Approximately 50 cookies
Calories: 150 kcal per cookie
Proteins: 2g
Fats: 7g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Equipment:
- 👨🍳 Saucepan e.g., All-Clad Stainless Steel
- 🥣 Mixing Bowls e.g., Pyrex Glass Bowls
- 🧇 Baking Tray
- 📜 Parchment Paper
Cooking Tips
- Ensure the syrup has cooled completely before soaking the cookies to maintain their texture.
- Zest the oranges lightly to avoid the bitter white pith.
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Melomakarona (Greek Christmas Cookies)
