Traditional Kourampiedes / Kourabiethes (Greek Christmas Butter Cookies)
Our very best recipe for Kourampiedes (Kourabiethes)! Traditionally made
to celebrate Christmas, these sweet little butter cookies will
definitely set you on a festive mood! Infused with rose water and the
aromas of melted butter and topped with luscious layers of icing sugar,
who can resist eating a few more than they should
Ingredients
- 250g cow milk butter, at room temperature (9 ounces)
- 100g icing sugar (3.5 ounces)
- 100g almonds, whole or roughly chopped, with the peel (3.5 ounces)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsps ouzo (Greek drink)
- 1 tbsp rose water
- 450-500g all-purpose flour, sifted (16-18 ounces)
- 6g baking powder (1 1/2 tsp)
- 1kg icing sugar for powdering (35 ounces)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 200C. Place the almonds whole or roughly chopped
(depending on whether you prefer the cookies to have whole or chopped
almonds inside) on a baking tray and sprinkle with some water. Bake them
for 7-8 minutes, being careful not to burn them.
- Use an electric mixer, to mix the butter and the icing sugar
(100g/3.5 ounces), for about 20 minutes, until the butter is creamy and
fluffy, like whipped cream. (It is very important that the butter is at
room temperature.) Add the vanilla extract, the rose water and the ouzo
and blend; add the baked almonds and blend again.
- In another bowl, blend the sifted flour and the baking powder. (It
is very important to sift the flour, so that the cookies will become
light and smooth.) Gradually add the flour into the butter mixture (from
step 2) and work the mixture with your hands, until the ingredients are
combined and the dough is soft and easy to work. You will need 450-500g
of flour, depending on the flour.
- Preheat the oven to 200C; layer the bottom of 2 baking trays with
parchment paper and form the kourampiedes. Roll 1-2 tbsps of the dough
into a ball, place on the baking tray and push with your finger in the
middle, to form a little dimple. Continue with the rest of the dough.
- Place the baking trays with the kourampiedes in second and fourth
grill of the oven and turn the heat down to 180C. Bake for approx. 20
minutes, until they have a very faint golden tint and are cooked
through. Be careful not to overcook them. Leave them aside to cool down
for a while. If you try to lift them, while still warm, they will break.
- In a large bowl, add 500g/18 ounces of icing sugar and dip the
kourampiedes (in batches) in the sugar, rolling them around, so that the
sugar sticks on all sides. Place on one or two large platters. When
done, sift the extra 500g/18 ounces icing sugar over the kourampiedes.
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