A traditional Greek staple during the holidays, these cookies ooze with golden syrup and are just what you need to get your house smelling like Christmas.

Ingredients:

  • For the cookies:
  • 1/3 cup cognac
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup ground walnuts (reserve some for the end)
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (you may need a bit more)
  • 1/2 tsp clove
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • For the syrup:
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 1 Lemon peel

Instructions:

  1. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl.
  2. Add your spices to the mixture.
  3. In another bowl, mix the olive oil and sugar with a whisk until the sugar dissolves.
  4. Dissolve the baking soda in the orange juice and pour it into the oil.
  5. To the sugar mixture add the cognac, orange zest, and ground walnuts.
  6. Gradually add your mixed dry ingredients.
  7. Start kneading the dough by hand. The dough should be soft, pliable, and quite oily.
  8. Shape the melomakarona in the form a small egg and place on a baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for about 25 minutes until they turn golden brown.
  10. Allow them to cool completely.

For the Syrup:

  1. Boil all your syrup ingredients over medium heat for 5 minutes.
  2. Reduce the syrup to very low heat and slowly dip the cooled cookies, until they’re fully coated.
  3. Arrange them on a plate and sprinkle your left-over finely chopped walnuts.
  4. Enjoy!

Source: Argiro Barbarigou