Koulourakia Butter Cookies Recipes

KOULOURAKIA - GREEK BUTTER COOKIES

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.

KOULOURAKIA (BUTTER COOKIES)

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg, brandy and vanilla, beating well.
• Add flour mixture, a little at a time, beating in well after each addition.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 teaspoon of dough into a 6-inch rope, fold in half and twist 2 or 3 times, pinch ends together.
• Place 1 inch apart on 3 greased cookie sheets.
• Brush with egg/milk mixture.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake 10-13 minutes in a preheated 180C (375F) oven until golden.
• Cool on rack.
• Store in an air tight container at room temperature.

KOULOURAKIA (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter& sugar until very light& fluffy.
• Add egg yolks, milk, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon& baking soda; mix well.
• Gradually add flour, about 1 cup at a time, until dough is no longer sticky (dough should not stick to your hands, but should not be too dry).
• Dough should be easy to handle without chilling.
• Take a 1" lump of dough, and roll into a 6" log on work surface.
• Sprinkle a few sesame seeds on work surface; roll log over seeds.
• Form log into a ring or twist; place on parchment-lined cookie sheets.
• Brush each ring or twist with egg white.
• Bake 15-17 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Store in airtight container.

KOULOURAKIA OR... GREEK BUTTER COOKIES RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter until it's light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat until well incorporated with the butter, about five minutes. Add the egg and continue beating. Stir in the vanilla and orange rind, slowly add the orange juice and the cognac, and incorporate them into the batter. Sift one cup of the flour together with the baking powder. Gradually add it to the butter and sugar mixture. Begin gradually adding the rest of the sifted flour. As it accumulates into the mixture you can gently knead the cookie dough by hand. The cookie dough will be ready when it is soft and pliable and no longer sticks to the sides of the mixing bowl. Place it into the refrigerator for one hour. While it is cold you can shape it into small balls. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until the cookies are golden in color, about 15 minutes.