Greek Farina Dessert Recipes

FARINA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, applesauce, sugar and honey until smooth. Mix in the lemon zest. Combine the cream of wheat, baking powder and cardamom; stir into the creamed mixture. Blend in the yogurt and egg whites. Try not to overmix, or the bars will fall. Finally, mix in the coconut and sliced almonds if you like them. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 45 to 55 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are brown but not the top. Cool and cut into bars.

GALAKTOBOUREKO

Steps:

• Pour milk into a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk together the semolina, cornstarch, 1 cup sugar and salt so there are no cornstarch clumps. When milk comes to a boil, gradually add the semolina mixture, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a full boil. Remove from heat, and set aside. Keep warm.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer at high speed. Add 1/2 cup of sugar, and whip until thick and pale, about 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
• Fold the whipped eggs into the hot semolina mixture. Partially cover the pan, and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish, and layer 7 sheets of phyllo into the pan, brushing each one with butter as you lay it in. Pour the custard into the pan over the phyllo, and cover with the remaining 5 sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter as you lay it down.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top crust is crisp and the custard filling has set. In a small saucepan, stir together the remaining cup of sugar and water. Bring to a boil. When the Galaktoboureko comes out of the oven, spoon the hot sugar syrup over the top, particularly the edges. Cool completely before cutting and serving. Store in the refrigerator.

GREEK CUSTARD PIE (GALAKTOBOUREKO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Have your pan ready to go - either a 16-inch round cake pan or a 10x13-inch lasagna dish. The phyllo should be room temperature or slightly cooler. Open the package right before using it so the sheets do not dry out.
• Stir the milk, semolina, ½ cup of the sugar, the butter, and vanilla in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Stir the mixture gently but constantly until it becomes thick like pudding. This may take up to 15 minutes or so. Remove the pan from the heat and cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Beat the eggs with the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar in a small bowl and then stir it into milk mixture. Stir in the orange zest.
• Melt the butter and begin by brushing the the bottom of your pan with melted butter.
• Layer the bottom of the pan with about half of the phyllo, liberally brushing with butter between each layer. Lightly press the sheets into the sides and corner and let the edges hang over the top; you will fold them over later. (Do not skimp on the butter! You should use half on the bottom layers and half on the top.)
• Pour the slightly cooled custard over the bottom sheets and spread to the sides. Layer the remaining sheets of phyllo on top of the custard as you did the bottom, continuing to brush melted butter between layers until you have used all the phyllo. Then, brush butter on the overlapping sides and roll the edges down creating a "rim" around the edge of the pan. Liberally brush the top and the edge with the rest of your butter.
• Bake until the top is golden brown all over, 30 to 45 minutes. (I suggest checking early and often, as you don't want the phyllo to burn.)
• While the pie is baking, make the syrup. Bring the sugar, water and orange juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes then remove from the heat. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla extract; set aside.
• When you remove the pie from the oven, let it cool for 15 minutes. Then, pour the syrup evenly over the entire pie. Allow the pie to sit for at least 1 hour before serving so the syrup can be absorbed. Store leftover pie in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

13 TRADITIONAL AND EASY GREEK DESSERT COLLECTION

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a traditional Greek dessert in 30 minutes or less!

REVANI CAKE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the syrup ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
• In the bowl of your standing mixer, add eggs, sugar and whip on high until it triples in volume and gets pale yellow and fluffy. 4-5 minutes.
• Add butter, vanilla extract and mix.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, semolina, baking powder and salt.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients working in batches.
• Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Poke the cake several times using the toothpick then pour the cooled syrup over.
• Allow the cake to cool down and rest for 1-2 hours before inverting on a serving platter. Decorate with coconut flakes and pistachios if desired.

RAVANI CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
• 2. Cake Directions
• 3. In large mixing bowl, cream butter.
• 4. Add sugar and egg yolks and beat until smooth and creamy.
• 5. Add vanilla and almond extracts, mix together.
• 6. Add flour and farina, mix together until blended.
• 7. Fold in unbeaten egg whites for 1 minute. Add chopped nuts and blend.
• 8. Pour mixture into 9x12 greased baking pan.
• 9. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes..
• 10. Pour syrup over cooled cake slowly.
• 11. Sprinkle with cinnamon
• 12. Slice into diamond shaped pieces and ENJOY!
• 13. Syrup Directions
• 14. In a 6 cup sauce pot, add all syrup ingredients except for Rum or Amaretto.
• 15. Bring syrup mixture to boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
• 16. Add ¼ cup to ½ cup of Amaretto, or Rum to the syrup. Continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
• 17. Let syrup cool for about 5-10 minutes. Pour syrup slowly over the Ravani. Tilt pan side to side spreading the syrup evenly.
• 18. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon. Slice the cake in diamond shaped pieces and enjoy!