Traditional Homemade Kourabiedes

Merry Christmas with these amazing festive sweet butter cookies! If you haven’t tried kourabiedes (Greek Christmas butter cookies) before, then you are certainly missing out. Soft, buttery, and fluffy with a crunchy bite and rich almond (or pistachio if you are feeling adventurous). This delicious kourabiedes recipe will definitely get you in a festive mood!

Kourabiedes are a delicious traditional Greek treat, packed with the aromas of fresh butter and roasted almonds and garnished with luscious layers of icing sugar - they are the ultimate Christmas cookie!

 

• 500 g butter, at room temperature
• 220 g icing sugar
• 1 g vanilla powder
• 1 teaspoon(s) rosewater
• 30 g bitter almond liqueur, or brandy or rum
• 200-280 g almond slivers or coarsely chopped, unsalted and toasted
• 900 g all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch salt

To Serve 

• 1 tablespoon(s) rosewater
• 300 g icing sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180ο C (350ο F) set to fan.

2. In a mixer’s bowl add the butter, the icing sugar, and beat with the paddle attachment at high speed, for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is fluffy and white.

3. Add the vanilla powder, the rosewater, the bitter almond liqueur, and keep beating. Remove the bowl from the mixer.

4. Break down the almond slivers with your hands, in order to crumble them, and add them to a bowl. Add the flour, the salt, and put them in the mixer’s bowl.

5. Mix the mixture with a serving spoon, very softly so that it does not lose its volume. As soon as the ingredients are homogenized, mix with your hands.

6. Shape balls, 30 g each, and transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Lightly press the center with your finger and bake for 20-25 minutes.

  
To see the full recipe and preparation instructions, please visit: akispetretzikis.com