Kourabiedes Greece Walnut Sugar Cookies Food

GREEK KOURABIEDES COOKIES

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.

KOURABIEDES: GREEK FESTIVE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a large baking sheet lightly with butter or cooking spray.
• Fry or bake slivered almonds until a light golden brown.
• Beat butter in blender or with a hand mixer on high for 20 to 30 minutes until white, light and creamy. Add the egg and yolks one at a time mixing well to incorporate.
• Add 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla, optional gum powder, rose water, ouzo and then almonds.
• Next sift together baking powder and flour. Slowly add to mixture,
• The final dough should be soft and easy to work with. So now form them into small balls -- about a fist-full. Form like dumplings and imprint thumb on all sides of the cookie.
• Bake for 10 to 20 minutes until light golden brown. Immediately splash with hand a mixture of 1/4 cup water and 1/2 cup rose water.
• Finally, place cookies on a serving tray and use a sifter to sprinkle powdered sugar on cookies until coated.
• Then say, "Hopa" and enjoy with friends and family!!!

KOURABIEDES (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES)

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.

GREEK BUTTER COOKIES (KOURABIEDES)

Steps:

• Cream butter until light and fluffy, it starts looking whitish. Mix in the 1/4 C powdered sugar and egg yolks, creaming well. Add brandy, mix in almonds.
• Sift flour, measure and sift again with baking powder. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing until smooth.
• Use a teaspoon to pinch off pieces of dough the size of a walnut and shape into crescents or flatten into rounds. I roll them in my hand. Place on a ungreased baking pan. Place one whole clove in the center of each round. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until very lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack for 5 minutes.
• Sift a 1/8 inch thick layer of powdered sugar over waxed paper and transfer cookies to it. Sift more sugar over the top to cover. Let stand until cool, then store in a tin. They are much much better if you can stand to wait a few days before eating them, but I never can.