What is the difference between Koulouria and Koulourakia?

Koulouri (plural is koulouria) is a large, round, wreath like bread covered in sesame seeds. Koulouri is a popular street food item in Greece, and especially popular for breakfast. Koulourakia is the smaller version of koulouria , and are soft, sweet, and buttery.

What is the significance of Koulourakia?

History. Koulourakia have been prepared since at least the time of the Minoan civilization. The Minoans sometimes prepared the pastries like small snakes, because they worshiped the snake for its healing powers .

What is koulourakia in english?

In fact, the Greek word 'koulourakia' literally means cookies .”

Is koulouri Greek or Turkish?

One food still common today in Greece and Turkey is the koulouri (or simit in Turkish ), a ring of bread sprinkled with sesame seeds. And though Thessaloniki seems to be credited as its birthplace, it can now be found throughout the country, enjoyed by people of all ages as a snack or a quick breakfast.

What is the ancient Greeks called the cake?

The ancient Greeks called cake πλακοῦς (plakous) , which was derived from the word for "flat", πλακόεις (plakoeis).

What is the origin of the word koulourakia?

Etymologically speaking, the word koulouri derives from antiquity . In ancient Greece, the word kollyrio* described a small round-shaped bread made of barley flour.

What is the history of koulouri bread?

The koulouri dates back to the Byzantine Empire and was associated mainly with the cities of Constantinople and Thessaloniki . Indeed, koulouri sellers in Constantinople harked their wares as “Thessaloniki koulouri” as did sellers in Athens many, many years later.

How do you roll a ball of cookie dough?

Place your rolling pin in the middle of the ball of dough (on top of the wax paper). Press down gently and roll the pin away from your body. Then bring the pin back to the middle of the dough and roll it toward your body. Be sure to use the same pressure on each rolling so that the dough is even.

How to make cookie dough rollable?

Place slightly chilled cookie dough between the two pieces of parchment paper and form the dough into rectangle using your hands. Using a rolling pin, start at the center and begin to roll the dough away from your body, rotating the dough 90 degrees every few rolls to ensure even thickness.

How do you roll cookies without sticking them?

Place two equal-sized sheets of parchment paper underneath and above the dough, making a kind of dough sandwich. Then roll out with your rolling pin, keeping the dough sandwiched between the two parchment sheets. Once it has been rolled to the thickness you're going for, chill the dough for the requisite time.

What is the difference between Kourabiedes and Melomakarona?

Melomakarona are soft and moist, flavored with classic holiday spices and soaked in honey syrup. Kourabiedes, meanwhile, are tender, delicate, and covered in piles of powdered sugar . Below you'll find our recipes for Greece's most popular holiday treats, made with some of our favorite ingredients from Navarino Icons.

What are Greek cakes called?

Baklava is a traditional pastry known for its sweet, rich flavor and flaky texture. It consists of phyllo (or filo) dough, nuts, spices, and a sugary syrup.

What is the Italian name for cookies?

This is the proper name for the biscuit we know as biscotti , which in Italian just means “cookies.” Twice-baked and sliced, these ultra-crunchy, not-too-sweet biscuits are usually studded with nuts and simply beg to be dipped in coffee, tea, or a glass of vin santo.

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (2024)

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Buttery, crumbly, and aromatic these traditional Greek Easter Cookies are so delicious and beautifully shaped.

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (1)

Happy Easter everyone! I was really in a hurry to finish writing this recipe while doing all the holiday cooking. So, here is the most fun to make Greek Easter cookies recipe. You knead them into any shape you like, which makes them a fun way to spend some time with the kids (I know I really used to enjoy making them when I was younger).

Table Of Contents

How To Make
Flavorings
The Traditional Greek Easter
Storing
Recipe

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (2)

How To Make

To make the best Greek Easter Cookies you need to make their butter really soft. To do this the most important thing is to properly cream the butter together with the sugar right in the beginning.

You need to let it beat for at least 10 whole minutes on your electric mixer to become really soft and fluffy. And then you can start adding the remaining ingredients. Like milk, orange juice and zest, eggs, flour (sifted), the flavorings, and leavening agents (baking soda and baking powder).

Resting the dough before shaping is also important as it gives time to activate the baking powder.

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (3)

Flavorings

They’re so crispy when you take a bite, and then they start to melt in your mouth. They also contain an unusual aroma, that of Mahleb. Mahleb is an aromatic spice made from the seeds of a species of cherry and is also used in our traditional sweet braided bread, called “Tsoureki” which is made on Easter as well.

This comforting sweet spice is what makes me think of Easter when I smell it. Like cloves and cinnamon reminds me of Christmas.
And let’s admit it, what are Holidays worth, if it wasn’t for all this lovely food that we’re making? Can you imagine Thanksgiving without a turkey? Or Christmas without gingerbread? Not really…

Especially in Greece, we really like to grab every chance we get to have a “Glenti” (The word for a Greek party with friends and family) with lots of food.

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (4)

I also included a mini step-by-step pic-guide for the different shapes we make here in Greece.

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (5)

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (6)

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (7)

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (8)

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (9)

The Traditional Greek Easter

And because Greeks are Orthodox, Easter is one of the biggest celebrations of all. For 2 whole days, this big “Glenti” takes on, in everyone’s backyard.

On the first day of “Pasha” (Easter), every household in Greece has a whole lamb on the spit. And most people have some “kokoretsi” as well. The music is on, from early in the morning, playing very old and traditional Greek songs (if you ever saw the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding“ then you know what I’m talking about). I literally step out of the house, and the music can be heard, all around the neighborhood, coming from almost every home.

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (10)

And like in every Greek celebration, big carafes of wine are on the table. And right in the center, you find a basket filled with the Greek Koulourakia (these Greek Easter cookies recipe), “Tsoureki” and red-dyed eggs. Already waiting, to treat every guest that comes to say “Xronia Polla”, in this case, it translates to “Happy Easter”.

HAVE YOU DYED EASTER EGGS YET?

If not, you may want to try these naturally dyed Easter eggs using onion skins. And skip all the chemicals from commercial dyes.

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So having started in the morning, this celebration takes place until late in the afternoon. When most, just drag themselves back to their home for a much-needed siesta.

All in all, these Greek Easter Cookies are the centerpiece of everyone's Greek Easter celebration table, and they are for a reason. They are truly scrumptious!

Greek Easter Cookies Recipe (Koulourakia Pasxalina) (12)

Storing

You can keep Koulourakia for up to a month in an airtight food container at room temperature. I prefer using good old-fashioned cookie tins to store cookies. Their texture never spoils even after a long time when stored this way.

Recipe