Easy Greek Biscuit Bake Recipes

KOULOURAKIA RECIPE (GREEK EASTER COOKIES)

Steps:

• To prepare this traditional koulourakia recipe, start by mixing the butter and sugar. In a mixer's bowl add the sugar and butter (chopped) and mix for about 10-15 minutes, until the butter is creamy and fluffy. (Once starting to prepare this koulourakia recipe, make sure that the butter is at room temperature).
• In the meantime warm the milk until lukewarm and remove the pot from the heat. Add the ammonia and whisk until fully dissolved. Set aside.
• , whilst mixing, allowing time for each one to be absorbed, before adding another. Pour in the the vanilla extract, the orange zest and the milk & ammonia blend and mix to combine. Add the flour, a little bit at a time, whilst mixing, until the ingredients are combined and the dough is soft and not too sticky.
• Cover the dough for the koulourakia with some plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.
• 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. For this koulourakia recipe, you will need approx. 4-5 large baking trays, depending on the size of the cookies you make.
• 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 200C/400F fan for 15-20 minutes, until fully cooked and golden brown on the outside (or the ammonia would not have been fully used up).
• Let the koulourakia cool down completely on a cooling rack and store in airtight containers for up to three weeks.

EASY EASTER GREEK COOKIES: KOULOURAKIA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place rack in the center of oven. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder and set aside. (see recipe note).
• Place the sugar and the orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixture. Rub these two ingredients together for 2-3 minutes with your fingertips. Notice the change in color and aroma as the sugar absorbs the oils from the orange.
• Add the room temperature butter with the paddle attachment, beat until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.
• Add the eggs, one at a time beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl between each addition.
• Add the egg yolk and again, beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add the milk, orange juice, vanilla extract, and ouzo (if using), beat together for 30 seconds. The mixture will appear curdled.
• At low speed, add the 3½ cups of flour and baking powder. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add a few tablespoons of flour if the dough is still sticky.
• Optional: cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes before rolling.
• With a medium-sized cookie scoop, portion all the dough. You should have 40 smalls balls of dough, each weighing 25 grams.
• Roll each ball of dough into a 7-inch log. Shape into desired shapes (braids, pinwheels, twists, etc.) Refer to the pictures in the post.
• Place on parchment-lined cookie sheets about 1 inch apart.
• Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the underneath of the cookies turns golden brown.
• OPTIONAL: During the last minute of the baking, switch to broil for the tops to become slightly golden.
• Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to completely cool down.
• Can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks. Cookies can also be frozen.

GREEK BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Blend in the flour to form a dough. you may have to knead by hand at the end. Take about a teaspoon of dough at a time and roll into balls, logs or 'S' shapes. Place cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned and firm. Allow cookies to cool completely before dusting with confectioners' sugar.

EASY BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk; stir just until moistened., Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times. Pat dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-1/2-in. biscuit cutter., Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.

EASIEST EVER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Put the butter in a bowl and beat it with electric beaters until soft and creamy. Beat in the sugar, then the egg and vanilla, and finally the flour to make a dough. If the dough feels a bit sticky, add a little bit more flour and knead it in.
• Pull pieces off the dough and roll them out to about the thickness of two £1 coins on a floured surface. The easiest way to do this with small children is to roll the mixture out on a baking mat. Cut out shapes using a 9cm biscuit cutter, or a use the rim of a small glass and peel away the leftover dough around the edges. Press some clean toys gently into the biscuits, making sure you make enough of a mark without going all the way through. Re-roll off-cuts and repeat.
• Transfer the whole mat or the individual biscuits to the baking sheet and bake for 8-10 mins or until the edges are just brown. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then serve. Will keep for three days in a biscuit tin.

GREEK BISCOTTI (PAXIMADIA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 cup white sesame seeds.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until pale. Beat in oil, ouzo, orange zest and juice, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture until well incorporated.
• Divide dough in half; transfer one half to center of a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining half and another parchment-lined baking sheet; shape into 12-by-6-inch logs. Mix together black sesame seeds and remaining 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds; distribute evenly over logs. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until lightly golden and firm to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• Transfer logs, one at a time, to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut on the diagonal into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange slices, cut-side down, on fresh parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake, rotating sheets and flipping cookies halfway through, until dry and lightly golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.