Milopitakia Greek Apple Filled Cookies Food

MILOPITAKIA (GREEK APPLE-FILLED COOKIES)

Steps:

• DOUGH:.
• Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Cut in the diced butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Lightly stir in the yogurt, mixing until the dough just begins to come together (it should feel crumbly). Don't knead the dough, just gather all the crumbs and press them into a ball with your hands.
• Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
• FILLING:.
• While dough is chilling, put the apples, lemon juice and superfine sugar in a small pan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until all the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in all the remaining filling ingredients (spices and walnuts).
• ASSEMBLY:.
• Preheat the oven to 350 deg. F. Grease two large baking sheets with butter.
• Divide the dough into 30 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then press your thumb into the ball to form a large hollow. Spoon the filling mixture into the hollows and press dough around it to seal it inches.
• Very gently press the filled cookies down to flatten them out a bit, but not so much that your filling leaks out. Place the balls on the baking sheets, seam side down, and bake them for about 35 minutes, or until lightly golden.
• Remove cookies from oven. Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over warm cookies, then allow to cool.
• Cookies keep for about 3 days at room temperature, or they can be frozen for several months.

MILOPITA (GREEK APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line an 11-inch round baking pan with parchment paper.
• Combine sliced apples, 1/2 cup white sugar, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix together gently, being careful not to break apple slices. Pour sugary juice from the apple mixture into the prepared baking pan. Arrange sliced apples on top in a circle. Sprinkle raisins on top of apples and pour any remaining juice over all.
• Combine olive oil and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Add egg yolks, flour, grated apples, baking powder, and remaining white sugar. Stir well to combine. Beat egg whites to a light froth in a separate bowl and stir into the olive oil mixture carefully. Pour over the apples in the baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cover cake with foil if the top browns before the cake is done baking.
• Remove cake from oven and allow to cool, about 30 minutes. Invert cake onto a serving plate.

APPLE-FILLED OATMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Apple Filling:.
• In a saucepan combine apple, raisins, pecans, granulated sugar and water.
• Cook and stir until thick and apple is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Oatmeal Cookies:.
• Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in eggs one at a time.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and cloves.
• Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.
• Stir in rolled oats.
• Set aside about 3/4 cup of dough.
• Drop remainder from teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet.
• Make a small depression in center of each cookie.
• Top with Apple Filling and a small amount of reserved dough.
• Bake at 375^ for 10 to 12 minutes.