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Greek Butter Cookies Kourambiethes

These are Traditional Greek butter cookies are baked for special occasions, weddings, Christmas, and Easter. This makes a big batch, the recipe can be cut in half. How to halve a recipe with one egg: Crack the egg and whisk together the yolk and whites. Then measure out half.

Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Keyword Christmas, cookies, dessert, Greek, holidays
Servings 45 cookies
Author Mary Papoulias-Platis

Ingredients

  • 3/4 package Swan's Down Cake Flour (any cake flour) (32 ozs. per box)
  • 1 egg, separated
  • 1 pound sweet butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 small pkg. slivered almonds, coarsley chopped, toasted lightly
  • whole cloves for center of each cookie, optional
  • 1/2 pound powdered sugar for topping

Instructions

  1. Place melted butter in mixer and beat for 20 minutes until light in color. The butter will change from medium yellow to a pale color.

  2. Remove butter from mixer, and place in large bowl.

  3. Beat the egg yolk with a fork, and add to the butter and mix well with a wooden spoon or your hand. (If you halve the recipe, beat the egg, then divide.)

  4. Beat the egg white with a clean fork and gently fold into butter. (If you halve the recipe, beat the egg white, then divide in half.)

  5. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix by hand or spoon.

  6. Place the baking soda and powder in a cup and stir in the orange juice. (Do this over the bowl, it may overflow)

  7. Pour into the butter mixture and blend with hands. (or spoon)

  8. Add flour slowly until incorporated thoroughly. (Do not over-mix)
  9. If the dough pulls away from the bowl and leaves it clean, the batter has had enough flour.
  10. Add the toasted slivered almonds.
  11. Shape into oval or round flat cookies by hand. Add a clove in the center of the cookie. (optional)
  12. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a liner.
  13. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

  14. Remove from pan and place on to rack to cool. (do not place sugar on them when cookies are warm- sugar will melt)

  15. Shift powder sugar on platter and place cookies on platter. Sprinkle with powdered sugar until covered.