KOULOURAKIA / GREEK EASTER COOKIES

Koulourakia are a fluffy and crispy, orange-scented traditional Greek Easter Cookies that are the perfect treat with coffee, milk  or hot chocolate. These sweet little Koulourakia  are super quick to bake, so much fun to make and highly addictive to eat!  This is an old fashioned traditional Greek koulourakia recipe for you to recreate this delicious traditional delight from scratch!

Ingredients:

*250g / 8.8oz butter
*1 ½ cup sugar
*25g  ammonia
*1/2 cup milk
*6 egg yolks
*1 tsp vanilla extract
*zest from 2 oranges
*1kg / 2 pounds all-purpose flour
*2 egg yolks and 1 tbsp water for glazing the koulourakia

Directions:

In a mixer’s bowl add the sugar, butter and egg yolks and mix for about 10-15 minutes, until the butter is creamy and fluffy.

In the meantime warm the milk . Add the ammonia and mix until dissolved.

Pour in the the milk (with the ammonia) and mix to combine.

Add the vanilla, orange zest and the flour, whilst mixing, until the ingredients are combined and the dough is soft and not too sticky.

Place the dough for the koulourakia on a clean working surface, take a small piece of dough and form long cords.
Shape the koulourakia with your hands, giving them any shape you like.

Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and place the koulourakia, leaving some distance between them as they will rise a lot when baked.
In a small bowl add the egg yolks and 1 tbsp water and whisk with a fork.

Brush the top of the koulourakia and bake in preheated oven at 160 C, until nicely coloured.
Let cool and store in airtight container.