Melomakarona – Traditional Greek Treats!

Melomakarona! Litsa with Love!

A winter treat and a  traditional Greek Christmas cookie Melomakarona are! A delicious cookie dipped in honey and spicy syrup, a gift that can make us so happy, especially the young. A traditional recipe that has proved that it can take the test of time!

We have so many recipes for Melomakarona.

Every house, every village throughout Greece, has a different version, like my grandmother, used to say, every chimney has smoke, but it does not mean that every kitchen has something delicious to offer! The same with the Melomakarona, some you like, and you ask what the secret is, hoping they will share it with you, some you don’t like and can’t even finish your bite.

But this chimney has a recipe worth trying.!

• Ingredients
• 1 cup butter (unsalted butter room temperature)
• ½ cup of vegetable oil
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup icing sugar
• ¼ cup of orange juice
• ¼ cup Brandy
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ginger
• 1 cup walnuts, coarsely ground

With mixer beat, butter oil and sugar until light and fluffy (5-7 minutes)

Add egg yolks and the liquids. Continue beating, slowly incorporate dry ingredients.

Remove from mixer and knead by hand, adding the flour slowly.

The Dough should be soft—form into oval shapes!

Bake in medium heat (325 for 25-30 minutes)

Syrup:

• Ingredients
• 2 cups of water
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup honey
• 1Cinamon stick
• 1 slice of lemon

Place all ingredients in a heavy pan.

Bring to a boil and let simmer for 5-7 minutes, removing the froth that forms.

Dip Melomakarona in the hot syrup for 2 minutes, remove them and place them in a large flat container.

Pour any remaining syrup gently over the Melomakarona, sprinkle with walnuts, and let them stay overnight to absorb the syrup.

Your Melomakarona are ready to be placed in paper cups.

PS  I love them with a dollop of chocolate, here is how.

Temper or melt 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate or 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 tsp of coconut oil in a double boiler or Bain Marie. If coconut oil is not available, use vegetable oil!

With a rubber spatula, mix very well until nice and smooth, remove from heat and place 1 tsp of melted chocolate on top of the Melomakarona, sprinkle with the walnuts and Voila, a beautiful addition to the delicious Melomakarona.