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–+ servings
a serving of Melomakarona traditional Greek Christmas cookies

Melomakarona: Honey-Dipped Greek Christmas Cookies

The recipe involves creating a dough with olive oil, sugar, orange juice, brandy, and fragrant spices like cinnamon and cloves, mixed with flour. Shaped into small oblongs, these cookies are baked to a golden hue.
The magic happens post-baking when they are soaked in a warm, spiced honey syrup, infusing them with moisture and sweetness.
Finally, they are garnished with crushed walnuts for a delightful crunch. This recipe requires intermediate baking skills and takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to prepare, yielding 30-40 cookies. Depending on how you make them.
Melomakarona are not just cookies; they're a celebration of Greek festive spirit and flavors, promising to add a sweet touch to any holiday gathering.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Dipping and garnishing the cookies. 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Servings 35
Calories 6322 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Bowl: For mixing the dough ingredients.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: To measure all the ingredients accurately.
  • Grater To zest the orange.
  • Baking sheet To bake the cookies.
  • Parchment Paper: To line the baking sheet, preventing the cookies from sticking.
  • Oven: For baking the cookies.
  • Small Pot: To prepare the honey syrup.
  • Slotted Spoon or Tongs: For dipping the cookies in the syrup.
  • Serving Platter: To serve the Melomakarona.
  • Nut Grinder or Food Processor: Optional, for crushing the walnuts for garnish.

Ingredients
 
 

For the Cookies:

  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour approximately

For the Syrup:

  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 whole cloves
  • 1 orange cut in half

For Garnish:

  • 2 tbsp Crushed walnuts

Instructions
 

Prepare the Dough:

  • In a large bowl, mix olive oil and sugar until well combined.
  • Add orange juice, brandy, and orange zest.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, kneading until the dough is smooth and pliable (it should be a bit sticky).

Shape the Cookies:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Take small portions of dough and shape them into small oblong cookies.
  • Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake: Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until they are lightly golden.
  • Make the Syrup: While the cookies are baking, prepare the syrup.
  • Combine honey, sugar, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and the halved orange in a pot.
  • Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and remove the orange, cloves, and cinnamon stick.

Soak the Cookies:

  • As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, dip them in the hot syrup, letting them soak for about 30 seconds to a minute on each side.

Garnish and Serve:

  • Place the soaked cookies on a serving platter and sprinkle them with crushed walnuts.

Nutrition

Calories: 6322kcalCarbohydrates: 997gProtein: 58gFat: 236gSaturated Fat: 32gPolyunsaturated Fat: 34gMonounsaturated Fat: 160gSodium: 1567mgPotassium: 1334mgFiber: 22gSugar: 602gVitamin A: 579IUVitamin C: 139mgCalcium: 487mgIron: 28mg
Keyword Baklava with Walnuts, Brandy, Cinnamon, Dipped Cookies, Greek Christmas, Honey, Intermediate, Olive Oil, Orange Zest, Syrup-Soaked, Traditional Dessert
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