MELOMAKARONA
Growing up in Cyprus, we would see this melomakarona cookie everywhere during the holidays. Every year my mother, Thelma, would make plate after plate of these all Christmas long. It's just not the holidays without them. -Paris Paraskeva, San Francisco, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 40m
Yield 4-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a saucepan, combine sugar, water and honey; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Cool completely. , Meanwhile, for cookies, in a large bowl, beat confectioners' sugar and oil until blended. Beat in Cognac, orange juice and honey. In another bowl, whisk flour, orange zest, baking powder and cinnamon; gradually beat into sugar mixture., Shape tablespoons of dough into 1-in.-thick ovals. Place 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned, 20-25 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks., Float and turn warm cookies in syrup about 10 seconds; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; sprinkle with walnuts. Let stand until set. Store between pieces of waxed paper in airtight containers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 172 calories, Fat 9g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 27mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
MELOMAKARONA
These Greek cookies, scented with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, are traditionally served around Christmas. The dough, made with semolina flour and olive oil, has a tender, crumbly texture. Once baked, the cookies are soaked in an aromatic orange honey syrup which makes them even more delicious. Most recipes for melomakarona don't call for salt so it's not included here. However, some call for brandy while others just add orange juice. Melomakarona keep well for a long time and can be prepared well in advance of serving. As an added bonus, they just happen to be egg- and dairy-free.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 2h
Yield 30 to 35 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- For the syrup: Stir to combine the sugar, honey, whole cloves, cinnamon stick and orange zest with 1 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Set aside at room temperature until cooled completely, about 1 hour. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; set aside.
- For the dough: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk together the flour, semolina, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Whisk the olive oil, vegetable oil, sugar, orange juice, honey and 1/4 cup water in another large bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Add the dry ingredients and mix with your hands, without overworking the dough, until slightly sticky but soft and smooth.
- Grab about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the dough (about 1 ounce) and form it into an oval-shape cookie about 1/2 inch thick. Press the top of the cookie gently on a wire rack to create a diamond pattern then place it, pattern-side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Bake until the cookies are lightly brown, about 25 minutes. Immediately transfer one cookie at a time to the cooled syrup, flipping a couple of times with a slotted spoon, just until absorbed and fully coated, 5 to 10 seconds. Use the slotted spoon to transfer the cookies to a serving platter.
- For the topping: Immediately sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the soaked cookies.
MELOMAKARONA RECIPE BY TASTY
Melomakarona are traditional Greek cookies that are typically made during the holiday season to be shared with family and friends. Soaking the melomakarona overnight in syrup is a crucial step in ensuring they have the perfect balance of sweetness and aromatic flavor. They're a perfectly spiced, sweet treat to enjoy this holiday season!
Provided by Aleya Zenieris
Categories Bakery Goods
Time 13h55m
Yield 24 melomakaronas
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Make the syrup: Add the sugar, salt, lemon juice, honey, cloves, cinnamon stick, and cold water to a small pot. Whisk to combine, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the syrup thickens slightly, 25-30 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let the syrup cool completely.
- Make the melomakarona: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 12 x 17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Add the baking soda and whisk for about 20 seconds, until the batter lightens in color and thickens slightly. Add the olive oil, canola oil, cold water, and honey and whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just incorporated, making sure not to overmix the dough.
- Using a rounded tablespoon measure, divide the dough into 24 equal portions. Roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball, then create an oval shape by gently squeezing two opposite sides in and rounding out the edges. Place the melomakarona on the prepared baking sheet and press down the tops to flatten. Using a fork, poke 4 sets of holes into each melomakarona, pushing only halfway through the dough.
- Bake the melomakarona for 20-25 minutes, until firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Place 4 melomakarona at a time in the cooled syrup. Soak for 15 seconds on each side, then return to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining melomakarona. Using a tablespoon, pour the remaining syrup over each melomakarona. It will look like there is too much syrup, but the melomakarona will continue to absorb it as they rest. Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil and let sit at room temperature overnight.
- Uncover the pan and sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the top of the melomakarona. Place each melomakarona in a paper cupcake liner, if desired, then arrange on a platter.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 150 calories, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, Sugar 10 grams
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