Koulourakia: Greek Easter Cookies
Koulourakia are traditional Greek Easter cookies that are infused with orange zest and reliable for dunking in coffee. Use baking ammonia for a fully authentic cookie!
One of our favorite things about each and every holiday is uncovering new-to-us food traditions. We've heard about Greek Easter cookies (officially knows as Koulourakia) before, and they finally made their way into our kitchen. Our husband and we, while Italian, have a love affair with Greek food, as well. We had moussaka on one of our first dates, we love spanakopita and baklava, and our husband just requested Greek custard pie for his birthday dessert.
These cookies are firm yet tender, orange-flavored, and reminiscent of of a soft biscotti. They are reliable for dunking in your morning coffee or afternoon tea (or evening coffee!).
We started the dough with one of our favorite tricks that we picked up probably 10 years ago from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From Our Home to Yours… when making something that involves citrus zest –> rub the zest into the sugar!
It totally infuses the sugar with the flavor of the zest, which has a more dramatic effect that simply mixing the zest into the dough or batter. We do this every.single.time We make a recipe with citrus zest and we love the results.
What is the Tradition Behind Koulourakia?
Koulourakia are a traditional Greek cookie, typically made the week of Easter, to be eaten after Holy Saturday.
They are a butter-based cookie, and are hand-shaped in a variety of designs, topped with an egg wash, and sometimes sprinkled with sesame seeds. They are most commonly infused with orange and vanilla flavors.
Wait, What Is Baking Ammonia?
When we started researching Greek Easter cookies, we found that many of the old-school, traditional and authentic recipes called for baking ammonia as the leavening agent, instead of baking powder and/or baking soda.
After some reading, we discovered that baking ammonia was used wayyyyyy back before baking powder or baking soda were “invented”. It is still somewhat common in Mediterranean baking, and can be found in some Greek markets and ordered online. It is typically used in baked goods that have a low moisture content and bake up firm and crisp or crisp. Baking powder can be used interchangeably with baking ammonia, but the baker’s ammonia does produce a lighter, crunchier crumb.
And it does have a strong odor (it used to be used as smelling salt!), but it dissipates during the baking process.
We'd love to hear about your favorite Easter food traditions! Do you have special cookies, bread, or other foods that you make year after year? Share them in the comments below!
And if you’re curious (or making your Easter menu!), feel free to browse through all of our Easter recipes. We hope you find some new recipes that you’ll love!
Want to Make Greek Easter Bread (Tsoureki), Too?
We've got you covered! Years ago, we made a Greek Easter bread that was to-die-for… a sweet bread also flavored with orange and adorned with colored Easter eggs, you can find our recipe here >> Greek Easter Bread (Tsoureki).
One year ago: Momofuku Birthday Cake
Two years ago: Baileys White Chocolate Mousse Trifle
Koulourakia: Greek Easter Cookies
Yield: 24 cookies Koulourakia are traditional Greek Easter cookies that are infused with orange zest and reliable for dunking in coffee.- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup (61 ml) milk
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
For the Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) water
- In a large mixing bowl, use your fingertips to rub together the sugar and orange zest until all of the sugar is evenly moistened with the zest.
- Add the butter and beat on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is pale, light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a full minute on medium speed after each addition. Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat to combine.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the dough a little at a time, and beat on low speed until just combined. Use a rubber spatula to give the dough a final mix and incorporate any pockets of flour. The dough should be soft, but not sticky. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Using about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time (or a medium cookie scoop), roll the dough into 7-inch ropes and then shape as desired: braids, circles, pinwheels, "S"s, etc. Place at least 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water for the egg wash. Brush over the shaped cookies.
- Bake, one sheet at a time, until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on one serving
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Prep: 45 minutes
- Cook: 20 minutes
- Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
- ¾ cup ( 150 g ) granulated sugar
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup ( 113.5 g ) unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup ( 61 ml ) milk
- 1½ teaspoons ( 1.5 teaspoons ) vanilla extract
- 3 cups ( 375 g ) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ( 0.5 teaspoon ) salt
For the Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- 1½ teaspoons ( 1.5 teaspoons ) water
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, use your fingertips to rub together the sugar and orange zest until all of the sugar is evenly moistened with the zest.
- Add the butter and beat on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is pale, light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a full minute on medium speed after each addition. Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat to combine.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the dough a little at a time, and beat on low speed until just combined. Use a rubber spatula to give the dough a final mix and incorporate any pockets of flour. The dough should be soft, but not sticky. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Using about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time (or a medium cookie scoop), roll the dough into 7-inch ropes and then shape as desired: braids, circles, pinwheels, "S"s, etc. Place at least 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water for the egg wash. Brush over the shaped cookies.
- Bake, one sheet at a time, until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
