Description
Indulge in the aromatic heart of Greek holiday traditions with these soft, honey-soaked cookies. A delicate blend of semolina, citrus zest, and warm spices creates a timeless treat that perfectly balances a tender center with a nutty, crunchy finish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3-4 whole cloves
- 1 orange, halved
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup fine semolina
- 3 cups soft flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp cognac
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Zest of 2 oranges
- 1 cup crushed walnuts
Instructions
- In a medium pot, combine water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and orange halves; boil for 3 to 4 minutes until sugar dissolves, then remove from heat, stir in honey, and let the syrup cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the semolina, soft flour, and baking powder until the dry base is uniform and well-combined.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk the orange juice, cognac, sugar, and ground spices together, then add the baking soda and whisk until it foams before stirring in the water, oils, orange zest, and honey.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and use your hands to gently knead the dough until it is soft and slightly oily, being careful not to overwork it.
- Preheat the oven to 180C (356F), shape walnut-sized portions of dough into oblong ovals, place on parchment-lined trays, pierce the tops three times with a fork, and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
- While the cookies are still hot from the oven, soak them in the cooled syrup for 10-20 seconds per side, then remove with a slotted spoon and immediately garnish with crushed walnuts.
Notes
To achieve the perfect texture, always ensure your syrup is chilled or at room temperature when the hot cookies are dipped, which prevents them from becoming overly saturated or mushy. Letting the cookies rest for at least 24 hours after soaking allows the spiced honey flavors to deepen and the semolina to reach its ideal tender consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek