Greek honey cookies aka Melomakarona

These famous honey and olive oil based cookies are the absolute favorite to most Greeks. Each region of Greece has their own specific recipe which differs even from family to family within the same area. We all like to try each other’s specific recipe and compare. The one below is the one my family makes every Christmas season.

They are made by a two-step process. First you bake the cookies and then you dunk them in a honey bath.

To begin, you beat first five ingredients (olive oil, butter, sugar, orange juice and brandy).

In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and soda to flour and start adding to the butter mixture one cup at a time. Make sure that the flour is completely combined before adding the next cup. The dough must be soft and not sticky. (My mom used to say it has to feel as soft as the ear of a baby).

Form oval shapes and put on an ungreased pan.

Flatten the Melomakarona in the center by pressing with a fork.

After you remove them from the oven and let cool, you are now ready to prepare the syrup. You combine honey, sugar and water in a medium size pot and bring to a boil.

Place one layer of cookies in the pot and let them soak for a few minutes so they can absorb the honey. Flip them halfway. The more you let them soak the softer and sweeter they will become. But watch out not to soak them too long or else they will dissolve and fall apart.

Remove from the pot, place them on a platter and sprinkle with cinnamon and the finely chopped nuts.

Print Recipe

Melomakarona

These famous honey and olive oil based cookies are the absolute favorite to most Greeks. Each region of Greece has their own specific recipe which differs even from family to family within the same area. We all like to try each other's specific recipe and compare. The one below is the one my family makes every Christmas season.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Servings: 99 cookies

Ingredients

• Ingredients for the cookies:
• 1 cup Butter
• 1 cup olive oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 7 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

For the syrup (or honey bath) :

• 2 cups Honey
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water

For the topping

• cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts

Instructions

• They are made by a two-step process. First you bake the cookies and then you dunk them in a honey bath.
• Beat first five ingredients (olive oil, butter, sugar, orange juice and brandy).
• In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and soda to flour and start adding to the butter mixture one cup at a time. Make sure that the flour is completely combined before adding the next cup. The dough must be soft and not sticky. (My mom used to say it has to feel as soft as the ear of a baby).
• Form oval shapes and put on an ungreased pan. Flatten the melomakarona in the center by pressing with a fork.
• Bake at 300 degree for 30 min. Remove from pan when golden brown. Let cool.
• Combine honey, sugar and water in a medium size pot and bring to a boil.
• Place one layer of cookies in the pot and let them soak for at least 5 min so they can absorb the honey. The more you let them soak the softer and sweeter they will become. But watch out not to soak them too long or else they will dissolve.
• Remove from the pot, place them on a platter and sprinkle with cinnamon and the finely chopped nuts.
  
• Continue this way until you have soaked all the cookies in the honey bath.

Notes

Melomakarona are the absolute favorite Greek Christmas cookies in our family. My mom makes them every Christmas season. She knows how much I love them and usually makes a double batch! Ever since we moved to Minnesota however I started making them on my own. Christmas is not the same without Melomakarona!

 

Yannis Sunday, November 03, 2013

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