Sesame Koulourakia Biscuits Recipes

KOULOURAKIA (GREEK SESAME TWIST COOKIES)

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Grease a cookie sheet/s.
• In a bowl using an electric mixer beat 1/2 cup butter, 6 tablespoons butter, oil and orange zest until very well blended (about 4 minutes).
• Add in 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until blended (about 2 minutes).
• In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder and baking soda; add into the creamed ingredients alternately with the orange juice.
• Divide the dough into six balls.
• Roll out one piece of dough on a lightly floured surface into about a 15-inch long rope.
• Fold rope lengthwise in half.
• Twist folded rope 4-5 times.
• Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Brush the cookies with egg glaze and then sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Cool completely before storing.

SESAME KOULOURAKIA (BISCUITS)

Steps:

• Cream butter with sugar until fluffy and quite pale-coloured (about 5-6 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time. Dissolve baking ammonia in the milk and add milk to the butter/egg mixture.
• Add the flour, baking powder and vanilla and mix until you have a pliable dough that doesn't stick to the sides of the mixing bowl (you may need to add a bit more flour as this recipe is from metric and actually calls for a kilo of flour which equals 2.2 lbs).
• Shape the dough into whatever shapes you desire. In Greece, we shape it into rings, snails, Ss, braids - you are only limited by your imagination. Do try to keep the shape down to a size that will comfortably fit into your coffee cup for dunking though - and remember - they'll puff up in baking. Brush shapes with water and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds. Place on greased cookie sheets, or parchment-lined cookie sheets, or silpat.
• Bake in a preheated 375F (180C) oven for 15-20 moinutes, or until golden-brown.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Note: If you can find a 'soft' flour, suited for pastry-making, you'll have a more authentic koulouraki.

KOULOURAKIA GREEK SESAME COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and shortening until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sugar.
• Beat in eggs.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices; stir into the egg mixture alternately with the cream and vanilla.
• Shape dough with floured hands into desired shapes.
• Shape pieces of dough into thick pencil shapes.
• Brush with extra beaten egg.
• Roll onto the sesame seeds to coat lightly.
• Double over rolled dough and twist, or form into rings, figure eights or coils. I use about six-inch pieces.
• Place on cookie sheets and bake in a moderate 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

GREEK EASTER COOKIES - KOULOURAKIA

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F In one bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking powder.
• In a second bowl mix the sugar and softened butter until fluffy. Stir in the vanilla, milk and egg. MIx thoroughly. Now slowly blend in the flour mixture until thoroughly mixed.
• Take about a teaspoon of dough and roll on floured counter. Roll until it´s about 5" long, then fold in half and twist. Pinch the ends together. Put on cookie sheet and brush with mix of yolk and milk. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top.
• Bake about 13 minutes, until they turn golden brown. Serve cool.

SESAME GREEK EASTER COOKIES (KOULOURAKIA)

Steps:

• Cream butter. Add sugar gradually.
• Add eggs one at a time alternately with orange juice.
• Add flour that has been sifted with soda and baking powder, a little bit at a time. Should be a soft dough.
• Shape as desired and brush with egg and milk mixture. Traditional Greek cookies are 2 small strands of dough twisted together and brushed with egg-milk mixture and sprinkled with sesame seed.
• Use greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees to 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.