Greeks Inside

Smells like Christmas

• Greeks Inside
• December 19, 2022December 23, 2022
• 2

December. That time of the year when everything is beautiful and cozy, merry and bright. From the biggest city to the smallest village, everything is decorated accordingly. Naughty or nice, the Christmas spirit is all around us. It smells like Christmas!

Don’t you think it is time for our homes to also smell like Christmas? Christmas for the Greeks is not entirely about melomakarona and kourabie. All kinds of sweet pastries and cookies can be found on a seasonal Greek table.

A series of relevant posts will follow about traditional Greek Christmas desserts and cookies and some more easy recipes with ingredients that anyone can find everywhere.

Until then, here are two easy recipes, quick and with very few ingredients. Gather around the kitchen and have fun all together, baking Christmas cookies.

Crispy, cinnamon cookies

• 200 ml oil, half and half, olive (if available) and sunflower oil
• 200 gr sugar
• 200 ml orange juice
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ¼ tablespoon baking soda
• ½ tablespoon clove
• 2 vanilla sticks
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 750  gr flour  

Execution is really simple! Add all the ingredients in a bowl. Stir by hand and mix the dough until it is soft and does not feel sticky. Shape the cookies to your desire and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180^o Celsius (350^o F) for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven while still soft.

Praline cookies

• About 400 gr hazelnut cocoa spread
• 2 eggs
• 2 vanilla sticks
• 500 gr self-rising flour (or as much as it takes for the dough to be soft and easily shaped)
• Crushed hazelnuts (for texture)
• Chocolate drops (for chocolate lovers!)

Execution is the same as above. Add all the ingredients in a bowl, stir by hand and shape as you please. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180^o Celsius (350^o F). for only 10 minutes!

Get ready for a cozy Christmas evening in your festive decorated home with some good company, or even alone! It already smells like Christmas! Get a huge cup of chocolate or your favorite coffee, those which make us feel alright, and enjoy.