Melomakarona are the most popular Greek Christmas Cookie! They are perfect and this recipe will make your home smell like Christmas. Enjoy !!!
Author: Nectaria
Servings: 45-50 cookies
For the Cookies
330 gr./ 11.64 oz. olive oil
115 gr./ 4.06 oz. butter
180 gr./ 6.35 oz. fresh orange juice
80 gr./ 2.82 oz. brandy
230 gr./ 8.11 oz. sugar
zest of two oranges
½ teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
250 gr./ 8.82 oz. fine semolina flour
750 gr./ 26.5 oz. all-purpose flour
For the syrup
700 gr./ 24.7 oz. honey
450 gr./ 15.9 oz. sugar
480 gr./ 16.9 oz. water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
orange peel from one orange
For garnish
150 gr./5.3 oz. walnut finely chopped, mixed with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 190°C / 375°F.
To make the syrup
Combine the honey, sugar, water, cinnamon and orange peel in a saucepan, then bring to the boil. At this point, simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes until the syrup has thickened slightly. Then take out the orange peel. Set aside.
To make the cookies
In a bowl combine all-purpose flour, semolina flour, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat together olive oil, butter, sugar, brandy, orange juice, orange zest, clove powder and cinnamon, until well blended. Add the liquid to the flour mixture and knead until a stiff, wet dough forms.
Get a heaped tablespoon of dough and mold cookie into oval shapes, 3-4 cm in length. Try to keep them as similar as possible. Use a fork and press lightly to make a cross-hatch design.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place them on, spacing them about 3 cm apart.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until they are crunchy and dark golden brown.
Then, while the cookies are still very warm, float them in the syrup a few at a time, turning them over to make sure they soak up plenty of liquid. After about 10-15 seconds, take the cookies out with a fork or spoon with holes in, put them on a serving plate and sprinkle them with the walnut/cinnamon mixture.