Greek Cookies With Confectioners Sugar Kourabiedes Recipes

KOURABIEDES (GREECE): WALNUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toast the walnuts until golden brown and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then chop about half of the nuts (you should have about 1/2 cup chopped). Pulse the remaining nuts in the food processor until finely ground (about 1/4 cup ground).
• Stir the flour, baking powder, salt and nuts together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In another medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg yolk, brandy and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture gets light and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
• At low speed, stir in the nut mixture to make a crumbly dough. Cover the bowl and set dough aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or coat with nonstick spray.
• With a tablespoon, scoop out 1-inch pieces of dough and roll into balls between the palms of your hands. Pinch the ends of the balls to make a football shape. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies set and start to brown, about 18 minutes.
• Remove cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle them lightly with the orange water. (If you don't have a brush, simply dip your fingers into the water and flick it over the cookies a few times.) Take care not to douse them, just enough for them to carry the scent of flowers.
• Put the confectioners' sugar in a bag, and add 5 to 6 of the warm cookies to it. Very gently toss the cookies to coat with sugar. Remove them from the bag and cool cookies on a rack. Repeat with remaining cookies. Serve.
• Busy baker's tips: Dough can be frozen for up to 2 weeks. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Baked cookies can be wrapped in plastic, then aluminum foil, for up to 2 weeks. To serve, let cookies come to room temperature before dusting with confectioners' sugar.
• Cook's Note: If you can't find orange flower water, try specialty stores or online.
• Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved

KOURABIEDES (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually stir into butter mixture until blended (mixture will be crumbly). , Shape heaping tablespoons of dough into crescents. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool 15 minutes., Place remaining sugar in a small bowl. Toss slightly cooled cookies in sugar; return cookies to wire rack to cool completely. , Toss cookies in sugar once more before serving. Store in an airtight container, adding any remaining confectioners' sugar to cover cookies.

KOURABIEDES (GREEK CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly roast the almonds for 5-8 minutes and allow to cool, then chop to a coarse or fine consistency, depending on preference.*
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Add butter to the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment equipped. Beat on medium-high speed for 10 minutes; it will appear light and fluffy. Reduce the speed and add in the sifted powdered sugar. Once it's incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and beat an additional 10 minutes; it will then appear fluffier and lighter in color (this is an important step - see notes for more info).*
• Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and brandy or ouzo and mix until incorporated.
• Add the sifted flour in half-cup increments. Once all the flour has been added, add the almonds. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 30 seconds.
• The dough should feel soft and silky with a pillowy texture. If it sticks to your hands, continue mixing and add sifted flour in two tablespoon increments until it no longer sticks.
• Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls (26-30 grams or two tablespoons) and flatten slightly and/or shape into crescents. Place onto ungreased baking sheets one inch apart.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until they reach a pale beige/golden color on top; the bottoms will be golden brown. Note that the cookies are extra delicate when they're hot, so handle with care.
• Remove from oven and let cool for five minutes. An optional step is to sprinkle the kourabiedes with rose or orange blossom water.
• With a sieve, evenly line a large pan with 1 ½ cups powdered sugar. Carefully nestle the kourabiedes into the sugared pan and completely cover with 2 cups of sugar. Use more sugar if needed.
• Allow to cool completely before transferring to a platter to serve.
• Enjoy!

KOURABIEDES - GREEK CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
• Add butter and 1 cup powdered sugar to bowl of electric mixer. Beat on medium speed with the paddle attachment until very light and fluffy (about 15-20 minutes).
• Add egg yolk, brandy, and vanilla. Beat until well incorporated.
• Add roasted almonds beat until mixed in.
• Sift flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Gradually add flour to butter mixture until a dough forms.
• Roll the dough into 2 tablespoon-size balls, or roll out dough and cut into crescents, stars, or whatever shape you like.
• Place cookies on prepared baking pan and bake 20-25 minutes until light golden, rotating pan half way.
• Use a sieve to evenly spread about half of the powdered sugar in a large deep baking pan. Once cookies are out of the oven, spray with blossom water. Then, carefully place each cookie in powdered sugar lined pan. Cover cookies with remaining powdered sugar.
• Cool completely and transfer to serving platter.
• Enjoy!

GREEK COOKIES WITH CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR (KOURABIEDES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Whip butter until white.
• Slowly add sugar, vanilla, and brandy.
• Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time.
• Shape cookies by rolling into balls (about the size of a meatball), then gently press your thumb into the top of the cookie and twist slightly.
• This will help flatten the cookie just a bit.
• Place cookies on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until the cookies are sand colored.
• Sift confectioner's sugar onto a large sheet of wax paper.
• Upon removing cookies from oven, carefully place on sugar and sift additional sugar to cover the tops and sides of cookies.

KOURABIETHES: GREEK SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer , add the butter and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Scrape the sides of the bowl and add egg yolks and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Mix well. Add the ouzo, vanilla, and the toasted chopped almonds.
• In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and baking soda together. With the mixer on low, add the flour to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated. You don't want to over mix the dough because that will toughen the cookies. Chill the dough for about half an hour to make it easier to handle and roll.
• Heat the oven to 350 F. Have ungreased baking sheets at the ready.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Take a piece of dough about the size of a walnut, roll it into a ball, and place on the cookie sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Alternatively, roll the walnut-sized piece of dough into a log and then curl the ends in and pinch slightly to make a half-moon or crescent shape.
• Stud each cookie in the center with an optional whole clove and bake for 20 minutes or until just beginning to brown.
• When the cookies are still very warm, dredge in confectioners' sugar. (Handle them with care because they are fragile.) The sugar layer will almost melt and coat the cookies. After the cookies cool a bit, add another dusting of confectioners' sugar.
• After the cookies cool a bit, add another dusting of confectioners' sugar. Store in a covered container with a light dusting for confectioners' sugar for up to one month.