Description
This Greek Melomakarona Recipe makes deliciously spiced, honey-soaked cookies that are a traditional Christmas favorite in every Greek household!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups semolina (fine)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (for garnish)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for garnish)
For the syrup:
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip of orange peel
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking trays with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix olive oil, orange juice, brandy, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.
- In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and semolina.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring to form a soft dough (do not over-knead).
- Shape dough into oval cookies and place them on prepared trays.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.
- While cookies bake, combine syrup ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and orange peel.
- When cookies are out of the oven, soak them in the warm syrup for 10–15 seconds each, then place on a wire rack.
- Sprinkle with chopped walnuts mixed with ground cinnamon.
Notes
Melomakarona are even better the next day as the flavors deepen. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: greek melomakarona recipe, honey cookies, traditional greek dessert, christmas cookies