Aug 18
Koulourakia Portokaliou: Citrus & Spice Cookie Twists
In keeping with the Olympic Theme... I thought I'd look for a Greek Recipe, home of the original olympics. Here's a cookie recipe
In Greek: κουλουράκια πορτοκαλιού, pronounced koo-loo-RAHK-yah por-toh-kahl-YOO
"Orange cookie twists," probably because the name with all ingredients would be too long! These cookies are made with the juice of oranges and lemons, and the zest of a clementine or tangerine. The website where I found the recipe says: Koulourakia are less sweet than other cookies and a traditional olive oil cookie - no butter - and they keep well stored in tins or frozen.
Ingredients
- 7 1/2 ounces of olive oil
- 3 1/2 ounces of sunflower oil (or other seed oil)
- 7/8 cup of sugar
- grated peel of 1 clementine (or tangerine)
- 8 cups of all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 4 1/2 ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice (strained)
- 4 1/2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/3 cup of cognac
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
Directions
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the olive oil, sunflower oil, sugar, and grated peel, and add all remaining ingredients except the flour mixture. Combine well.
Add the flour slowly, mixing with pastry hooks or by hand to make the dough. The dough is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl or when it no longer sticks to the hands.
Preheat oven to 340°F (170°C).
Take small pieces of dough, roll by hand into ropes and form into shapes: spirals (photo), figure eights, pretzel shapes, etc.
Place on ungreased cookie sheets leaving space between, and bake at 340°F (170°C) for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned. Test for doneness. Cookies should be lightly browned and wonderfully crumbly all the way through.
Cool on racks.