Homemade koulourakia

The highlight of a coffee break

This recipe kind of grew up with my family: when my sister and I were kids, my mum used to make the most delicious pasta flora (jam tart) using this dough, that in its original version contains eggs and butter. We loved it! Then, as teenagers, we became familiar with a new term called calories and to cut a long story short; the jam was banned from the recipe and my mother just made cookies with the dough… The years passed, and when my father started watching his cholesterol, the eggs and butter were substituted with corn oil and fresh squeezed orange juice.

These bite-sized koulourakia are light, crunchy and not too sweet; the perfect treat to accompany a warm cup of coffee. I am sure you will like them!

Koulourakia: the recipe

Ingredients (makes about 40 small koulourakia)

• 1-cup corn oil

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 7 tablespoons cognac

• 7 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 3^1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1-teaspoon baking powder

Using a mixer beat together corn oil and sugar. Add juice, cognac, lemon zest and then flour and baking powder. Knead well (with your hands) until dough is smooth. The dough should be soft and not too sticky. Let it rest for half an hour.

Form as desired, into braids or small doughnut shaped cookies. Place the koulourakia on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper and bake at 180^o C, in pre-heated oven, for 35-40 minutes.

Enjoy!

ps-Isn’t the butterfly cup wonderful? It’s from Studio Yria, in Paros, one of my favorite places where I could spent hours looking at their beautiful ceramics.

photography by christos drazos

words by maria alipranti