GREEK EASTER COOKIES

“My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get stuff cheaper.” - Amy Sedaris
 
Great Thursday of the Holy Week in the Orthodox Church calendar is devoted to kitchen duties in the home, in order to prepare for Easter. Eggs are dyed blood red to signify Christ’s resurrection, sweet Easter bread is baked and Easter cookies are prepared for Easter Sunday. Both bread and cookies are full of eggs, butter and milk, all of which were forbidden foods during the period of fasting of the Great Lent. Here is a recipe for Greek Easter Cookies:
 
GREEK EASTER COOKIES (KOULOURAKIA)

Ingredients

            • 2 eggs (+1 for glazing)

            • 550 g of self raising flour

            • 125 g unsalted butter

            • 1/2 cup of milk

            • 1 cup sugar

            • 1/2 tsp baking powder

            • 1/2 tsp vanillin sugar
 
Method
Cream the butter and the sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the whole two eggs, beating continuously. Add the milk a little at a time, whilst continuing to beat the mixture. Mix the baking powder and vanillin sugar with the flour and add to the mixture while stirring. Knead into a soft dough. Roll into long cylinders slightly thicker than a pencil (they rise a lot). Shape into small plaits and put into a greased baking tray. Brush with beaten egg and bake in a pre-heated oven at 175˚C until golden brown.
 
This post is part of the Food Friday meme,
and also part of the Food Trip Friday meme.