Last Updated on November 26, 2020 by Chef Mireille
Koularakia are Greek Butter Cookies traditionally made during Easter. They can be flavored with a variety of ingredients including orange, anise, coriander and sesame seeds.
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Greek cuisine is a fusion of European Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Many of their recipes have their roots in Arab culture and cuisine, like these delicious Koularakia – Greek Easter Cookies.
Located in the Mediterranean, Greece is on the borderland between Europe and the Middle East. Elements of Greek cuisine is as similar to Italian as it is to Turkish and Persian (Iran, Iraq, etc.)
Lamb is the most popular meat. Olives, dates, figs and a variety of nuts also are used often in the cuisine. A variety of aged and fresh cheeses like feta, goat cheese, mannouri and kasseri used in Greek cuisine are reminiscent of Italian cuisine as are dishes like Manestra a dish of chicken and orzo cooked with tomato and Pastitsio, pasta and ground beef baked in bechamel sauce.
Koularakia are Greek Butter Cookies traditionally served at Easter. They can be flavored with a variety of ingredients including anise seed, coriander seed, lemon, orange or ouzo. They are also sometimes topped with sesame seeds.
I have used both anise and ouzo, an anise flavored liqueur in my version of Greek Butter Cookies.
How to make Koularakia – Greek Butter Cookies
Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle sugar on top.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, until you start to see some color from the bottom of the cookies.
These barely sweet cookies are perfect with a cup of tea. I do need a little more practice shaping them in the traditional way as the opening on the top should not be quite so large, but these are so delicious as you break off pieces to enjoy, does the shape really matter?
These cookies have such a soft texture with the perfect crumb.
There’s a lot more to Greek food than the Spanikopita every one knows about!
Koularakia – Greek Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a cookie sheet with non stick spray.
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Using an electric mixer, beat butter until light and creamy. Add eggs and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes
- Add ouzo, anise seed and flour a little at a time, until you have a thick batter.
- Take a small piece of dough and roll into a rope about 10″ long. Form into a U shape and then twist the strands twice. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat until all the dough has been used.
- Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle sugar on top.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until you start to see some color from the bottom of the cookies.
Nutrition
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It is really interesting how Greece shares so many cooking traditions. These cookies remind me of an Italian cookie my grandmother made.
I just love your Koularakia, it is so beautifully presented! I love cooking with you at Foods of The World as we visit Greece.
Miz Helen
Had never heard of this cookies.. Looks yummy though