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Greek Butter Cookies (Koulourakia)
5 from 3 votes

Greek Butter Cookies (Koulourakia)

Traditional Koulourakia (Greek Butter Cookies) are buttery, crisp, and perfect for any holiday. Fun to shape, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
18 mins
Total Time
38 mins
Servings: 40 cookies
Calories: 195 kcal
Course: Baked Goods

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water filtered is best
  • 2 ticks cinnamon
  • 2 cups butter softened to room temperature (4 sticks, salted
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar I used all natural cane sugar, white sugar may be used
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract plus 1 teaspoon
  • 5 cups cake flour spoon and level for scant 5 cups; or white pastry flour
  • 1 2/3 cups flour plus 2 tablespoons; I use organic all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 large egg

Instructions

Make Cinnamon Infused Water (up to 2 days ahead)
    Cup of Yum
  1. Add water and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan and bring to a rapid boil, over medium heat. Once the water has reduced by about ½ remove from heat. It's better to boil off too much water than not enough, you want the flavor of the cinnamon to shine through. If you do boil too much off, simply add cool water to bring to ½ a cup. Cool completely!
  2. Using a mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the soft butter, vanilla and cane sugar mixing until smooth and combined on low. You don't want any chunks of butter remaining.
  3. Whisk together in a large separate bowl; cake flour, all-purpose flour and baking powder.
  4. With the mixer on low, add eggs to the butter mixture, then add the flour mixture alternating with a little of the cooled cinnamon water until it comes together and forms a soft, smooth dough. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.
  5. Using your hands or a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop (makes the cookies come out pretty evenly) scoop a generous heaping portion of dough (about 1.5 oz or 45 grams) and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Roll into ball and then into about 7" long ropes, form a "U" shape, then cross one side over the other and twist twice. Place twists onto parchment lined baking sheet, one inch a part.
  6. Bake at 375°F (190° C) for 17-18 minutes for high altitude and about 20 minutes for sea level or until golden brown on the edges and bottom. Allow to cool completely on baking sheets. Store in airtight container on the counter up to 7 days or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Notes

  • TIPS & TRICKS
  • parchment paper
  • parchment
  • cookie sheet
  • I found refrigerating the dough for 10 minutes after portioning into dough balls made it easier and more uniform to shape these into their traditional twists..
  • I experimented with refrigerating the dough after shaping, as well as placed them straight into the hot oven. The results were almost identical, so go ahead and pop them right in the oven.
  • Make them smaller! Yielding a lot more cookies, great for larger Easter celebrations or Christmas cookie exchanges. Reduce baking time checking at about 10-12 minutes or so. These are also a fun cookie for kids to help make.
  • Shape into a variety of shapes; try rings, crescents, twists with lots of twists or two twists, or an "S" shape.
  • Brush them with an egg glaze; whisk 1 egg with a tablespoon of water, brush on top of Koulourakia dough before baking, if desired sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  • Pre-roll the dough into desired size balls, wrap in parchment paper, then place in airtight freezer container getting out as much air as possible. Store dough in freezer up to 3 months.
  • When ready to roll and shape the dough, thaw in refrigerator until dough is workable. Shape as desired into twists and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake as directed

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 195kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 24g (8%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 3g (15%) Trans Fat 0.4g (20%) Cholesterol 34mg (11%) Sodium 80mg (3%) Potassium 29mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 298IU (6%) Vitamin C 0.01mg (0%) Calcium 11mg (1%) Iron 0.5mg (3%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 40 cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 195

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 195kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 24g 8%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0.4g 20%
Cholesterol 34mg 11%
Sodium 80mg 3%
Potassium 29mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 298IU 6%
Vitamin C 0.01mg 0%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0.5mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.