Let's talk about Koulourakia—they're practically synonymous with Greek Easter and are the perfect treat to pair with your morning coffee or afternoon tea. These little delights are sweet, they melt in your mouth, and as Pappou would say, they're "san vamvaki," which means as soft as a cotton ball.
You can dress them up with sesame seeds or leave them plain—either way, they're pure perfection. Plus, they're a fantastic option when you're heading to someone's house for Easter and want to arrive with a thoughtful gift in hand.
What's even better is that they stay fresh for a while if you store them in an airtight container. That means you can savor them for a week or two even after Easter is over.
And here's the fun part: getting the kids involved! Let them lend a hand in rolling the dough into shapes. While I've shared one way to make the shapes, the possibilities are endless—let your creativity run wild!
1. Melt the butter, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Then pour in lukewarm milk, oil, orange juice and rind.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the sugar and 10 eggs until its pale in colour and fluffy.
3. Combine 1 and 2 above into one bowl.
4. Slowly mix in the flour.
5. Use your hands to combine everything together until a dough is formed and it no longer sticks to your fingers. Persist with kneading until it no longer sticks to your fingers. Note: Many people think that the key is just keep adding more flour because the dough is too sticky but this will result in a drier biscuit.
6. Once you're happy with the texture, allow the dough to rest in the fridge, covered for 30 minutes.
1. Lightly dust your work bench with plain flour and cut 20-30g of dough from your big dough ball.
2. Roll the dough piece between your hands into a ball and then use the bench to roll it into a long rope, and then fold it in half.
3. Twist the ends of the dough and place it on a lined baking tray. a couple of centimetres apart.
1. Whisk the last egg in a bowl with a tablespoon of water - this is your egg wash. Brush the egg wash over each biscuit and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional).
2. Bake in a preheated 180°C fan oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Every oven is different, so keep an eye on the colour of your koulourakia. If it means pulling them out at 15 minutes then do so!
Servings 50
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.