Language/Modern-greek-1453/Culture/Melomakarona-:-Greek-traditional-Christmas

Melomakarona: Greek traditional Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, Greeks all over the world eagerly anticipate the arrival of their cherished festive treats, with Melomakarona taking center stage. These delectable honey, orange, clove, nut, cinnamon, and syrup-soaked cookies boast a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and are an essential part of Greek holiday celebrations.

During the holiday season, you will find Melomakarona in practically every household in Greece, showcasing the love and affection Greeks have for this traditional dessert.

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

• 1 and 1/2 cups of flour
• 400 ml orange juice
• 400 ml vegetable oil
• 180 ml (1 cup) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of cognac
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
• 100 grams icing sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered cloves
• 2-3 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 250 grams coarsely crushed walnuts
• Honey

For the syrup:

• 500 ml water
• 500 grams sugar
• 300 grams honey (1 and 1/2 cups)
• 3 cinnamon sticks

*Tip: Begin with the syrup preparation to give it time to cool while you make and bake the dough for the cookies.

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, add the ingredients for the dough in the following order: vegetable oil, olive oil, orange juice, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon powder, icing sugar, cognac, flour (added gradually), and finally 1 cup of crushed walnuts. As you add the baking soda, whisk for about a minute to ensure it mixes well with the orange juice, allowing all the ingredients to blend seamlessly and form a soft dough.
2. Shape small, oval cookies using your hands, roughly the size of your palm. Place the cookies on a lined baking sheet with a little space between them. To create an appealing surface pattern, use a fork to make lines or a grid on the cookies.
3. Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and bake the cookies.
4. After removing the cookies from the oven, immediately use a slotted spoon to dip them into the cooled syrup for about 30 seconds, ensuring they are fully soaked. You can dip up to four cookies at once. Then, transfer them to a large plate.
5. Drizzle the soaked cookies with a touch more honey and sprinkle with additional crushed walnuts.

Savor the delicious taste of Melomakarona and immerse yourself in the warmth and joy of a Greek Christmas!

Author

➡ Marianthi

• Ευγενική χορηγία που στοχεύει να βοηθήσει μαθητές ή μη, απανταχού της Γης, που επιδίδονται στην εκμάθηση της ελληνικής γλώσσας!
• Contribution bénévole visant à aider les personnes, partout dans le monde, qui sont engagées dans l'apprentissage de la langue grecque !
• Voluntary contribution aimed at helping people, all over the world, who are committed to learning the Greek language! 

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