Kourambiethes | Greek Christmas Cookies
Traditional Greek Christmas cookies! Learn to make Kourambiethes and bring a little Greek flair to the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 1 egg yolk
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon brandy can sub with orange juice
- 2 cups flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Place butter in bowl and whip until light and fluffy, about 10-15mins.*
- Add egg yolk and blend with whipped butter.
- Add in 1/4 cup powdered sugar, vanilla, and brandy. Mix well.
- Add flour and mix until soft dough is formed. Use more flour as needed.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Break off small pieces of dough, form into a small ball (or whatever size you like).
- Pinch the center of the dough ball to flatten a bit and place on baking sheet.
- Repeat until all dough it used.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25mins, or until bottoms of cookies are golden brown**
- While the kourambiethes are baking, cover serving plates with powdered sugar.
- Remove kourambiethes from oven and place on cooling rack for 10-15mins.
- Place kourambiethes on serving plates.
- Sprinkle remaining powdered sugar over them - the more the better!
- Enjoy!
Notes
Traditionally, almonds are added to this recipe either by placing one within each cookie (rolling the dough around the almond so it's inside the kourambiethes), or using almond flour (see comments below). We prefer them without almonds, so adjust accordingly.
*Make sure to really spend the time whipping the butter. This is an important step!
**The cookies themselves won't turn golden brown.
*Make sure to really spend the time whipping the butter. This is an important step!
**The cookies themselves won't turn golden brown.