Kourabiethes Greek Christmas Cookies

What is Kourabiethes

Kourabiethes (Greek: κουραμπιέδες) are crescent-shaped light shortbread, typically made with almonds. Sometimes different flavorings like brandy, vodka, vanilla, or rose water are added to make it more flavorful.

In some regions of Greece, Christmas kourabiethes are served with a single whole spice clove stuffed in each cookie. Kourabiethes are normally shaped either into crescents or round balls shapes. After they cool, they are usually rolled in icing sugar. They are very popular for special occasions, such as Christmas or baptisms ceremonies.

Why make Kourabiethes?

✔they are easy to make

✔eggless

✔needs few ingredients

✔tatses just heavenly

✔make wonderful edible gift

✔quick and fuss free

Ingredients Needed for Kourabiethes

• All-purpose flour: To make kourabiethes we need all-purpose or cream plain flour.
• Butter: Butter makes really soft and melt mouth kind of cookies.
• Icing sugar: The recipe uses icing sugar in the cookies and later to coat them with.
• Almond meal: Almond meal adds nice texture and flavor to the cookies.
• Orange rind and Rosewater: For extra flavors
• Vanilla: Optional but adds nice taste.
• Milk: Just to bind the dough.

How to make Kourabiethes?

Step 1. Make Dough and Shape Cookies– Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 flat baking trays with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, beat butter with one cup of icing sugar, vanilla rose water and orange rind until pale and creamy.

Add milk and beat until well combined. Sift flour and baking powder into the mixture. Add almond meal. Stir until dough combines together. Using 1 tablespoon dough per biscuit, roll out into small sausage shapes and then bend to form crescent shapes.

Step 2. Bake and Roll in Icing Sugar-Place the cookies on baking trays give space for spreading. Bake for 20 minutes or until they are lightly golden.

Place remaining icing sugar in a bowl. Coat each warm cookie in icing sugar. Place on a wire rack to cool. When cookies are cooled, sift the remaining icing sugar over them.

Serving and Storage

Serve the kourabiethes with a glass of milk, coffee or as it is. They tatse just amazing with mulled wine as well. Store the leftovers cookies in air tight containers.

You can also freeze them in freezer-friendly zip lock bags for up to a month. If planning to freeze them, do not roll in icing sugar. Thaw and then warm up the cookies in Mw or oven and then roll in icing sugar.

Pro Tips

• Make sure to use room temperature butter to make the cookies.
• Beat the butter and sgar until it is light, fluffy and pale in color.
• You can also make the cookies in round shape instead of crescent shape.
• Do not over or underbake the cookies and make sure the oven is preheated beforehand.
• Store the cookies properly in air tight containers as they ten to become soft very quickly.

Like Kourabiethes, try these recipes…

• Chocolate Pecan Cookies
• Coconut Flour Cookies
• Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• 3 Ingredients Shortbread Cookies
• Ma’amouls | Date stuffed Cookies

Looking for more such yummy christmas recipes to get some ideas for your snacking? Do not miss my Christmas Cake and Christmas Fruit Cupcakes and the best one’s Christmas Shortbread Cookies.

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Kourabiethes Greek Christmas Cookies

Sapana Behl

Kourabiethes are crescent-shaped Greek Christmas cookies. After baking when they are cool, they are usually rolled in icing sugar.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Cookies

Cuisine Greek

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Baking Tray

Ingredients

  

• 250 g butter softened
• 2 1/2 cups pure icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 orange rind finely grated
• few drops of rose water
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 flat baking trays with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, beat butter with one cup of icing sugar, vanilla rose water, and orange rind until pale and creamy.
• Add milk and beat until well combined. Sift flour and baking powder into the mixture. Add almond meal. Stir until dough combines together.
• Take a tablespoon of dough for each cookie, roll out into small sausage shapes, and then bend to form crescent shapes.
• Place the cookies on baking trays give space for spreading. Bake for 20 minutes or until they are lightly golden.
• Place remaining icing sugar in a bowl. Coat each warm cookie in icing sugar. Place on a wire rack to cool. When cookies are cooled, sift the remaining icing sugar over them.

Keyword eggless kourabiethes cookies, greek christmas cookies, kourabiethes, kourabiethes cookies

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This post was originally posted in 2013, since then I have updated the pictures and content for better engagement.

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Best Regards,
Sapana Behl