Koulourakia
(Greek Easter Biscuits) Recipe

Origin: Greece      Period: Traditional

These golden sesame seed topped twists are traditionally baked on Holy Thursday and are served throughout the Easter period.

Ingredients:

320g plain flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
100g butter, softened
200g icing sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp brandy or milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 tbsp milk (to glaze)
3 tbsp sesame seeds

Koulourakia
(Greek Easter Biscuits) Preparation:

Method:

Cream together the butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy then add the egg and the brandy (or milk), beating well to combine thoroughly. Meanwhile, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt into a separate bowl. Add, a little at a time, to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.

Work the mixture to a soft dough. Then, taking rounded teaspoons use the palms of your hands to roll each piece back and forth on a lightly-floured work surface until you have a rope about 15cm long. Bring the two ends together and crimp to form a circle. Shape into an oval then twist this two or three times to form a braid then place on a greased baking tray, setting each one 3cm distant from its neighbour.

When all the koulourakia have been made beat together the egg yolk and milk and use to glaze the tops of the biscuits. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top then transfer to an oven pre-heated to 190°C and bake for about 10 minutes, or until well browned. Store in an air-tight jar, where they will keep for up to 2 weeks.

Find more Easter Recipes Here

Read: Recipe Articles and Reviews

More European recipes...

More recipes for breads, cakes and pastries...

More Traditional recipes...

More recipes for Biscuits/Cookies...

More Baking recipes...

Are any of the terms used here unfamiliar, do you want to translate from British to American cookery terms? If so then this Glossary of US and UK Cookery Terms will help you.

Need to convert any units on this site?

As a guide 1 US cup of flour = 4 1/2 oz = 140g (this applies to breadcrumbs, ground almonds etc
1 US cup of butter/margarine or sugar = 7 oz = 200g

For temperature conversions (Celsius, gas mark, Farenheit) go to the Temperature conversion page.
For mass conversions (grammes, cups, spoons, ounces etc) go to the Mass/Weight conversion page.
For temperature conversions (litres, cups, spoons, fluid ounces etc) go to the Volume conversion page.
You can also see more cookery terms and meanings as well as ingredient descriptions at the Cooks' glossary