Greek Christmas Cookies / Kourambiedes

5 from 1 vote

My sister Koko, short for Konstantina, makes these delicious, traditional Greek Christmas shortbread cookies every year and this is her recipes. Share them with friends and family and give them as gifts. Try a Greek dessert wine, such as the sweet wine of Monemvassia, with all your holiday sweets. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you'll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you'll discover a host of lovingly curated Greek ingredients.

5 from 1 vote

Greek Christmas Cookies / Kourambiedes

By Diane Kochilas

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 15

Servings

Christmas, Recipes, Sweets & Desserts

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 15

Servings

Christmas, Recipes, Sweets & Desserts

Ingredients

8 oz./ 228 g blanched almonds
16 oz. / 500 g unsalted butter at room temperature
2 large egg yolks
15 oz. / 440 g Confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
75 ml Cognac/Brandy
8 – 9 oz./ 225-275 g all-purpose flour sifted

Instructions

Lightly toast almonds then ground to the consistency of coarse bulgur wheat.
Whip the butter, egg yolks, 1 oz./ 28 gr. confectioner’s sugar and b. powder at high speed until very creamy and smooth, about 8-9 minutes. This is the secret to this recipe. Add almonds and brandy and beat another 4-5 minutes.
Add the sifted flour in increments, starting with 175 gr. / 6 oz. (approx. 1 cup) then adding the remainder in 2 ½ tablespoon (50 g/ 1/7 g) increments, as needed, until the dough is smooth and silky and no longer sticks.
Shape into traditional kourambie shapes. Bake on ungreased sheets for 10-12 minutes at 340F / 170 C. These cookies should not brown. They should bake to a pale beige-golden color. Remove and cool slightly.
Sift remaining confectioner’s sugar over the cookies.

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You can shape kourambiedes all sorts of ways: As little buttons, about 1 ½ in. / 4 cm in diameter; small oblong fingers, about 2 in./ 5 cm long; or as hearts, diamonds, or crescents.

Diane’s Greek Single-origin Artisanal Foods

Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

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Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

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Greek Christmas Cookies / Kourambiedes