Wednesday 3 April 2013

Do the (Easter) Twist

I've been baking again! These little treats are called koulourakia.


This recipe comes a little bit late because they are actually Easter biscuits. Although, if you wanted to be pedantic, they are a Greek recipe and Greek Orthodox Easter isn't until the beginning of May, so they could be made then. Or you could just make them any old time because they're delicious (though I personally like saving special occasion foods for the right special occasion - it keeps them, well, special).

But less talky, more bakey.

You will need:


  • 190g butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/8 cup cream 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 cups plain flour
  • white of 1 egg
  • sesame seeds
  • your most colourful, spring-time-appropriate apron



Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat eggs, add to mixture. Beat in cream.


Add baking powder and vanilla essence. Colour co-ordinate your nails with package, if possible. Gradually stir in flour, one cup at a time, until soft.


Knead for 10 minutes on lightly floured surface. Roll into strips 1.5cm x 20cm, then shape and twist.



Place on a greased baking tray.


Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Before doing so, check the already opened sesame seed packet you photographed in the ingredients pile, realise they're a year out of date, substitute with a fresh pack.


Bake in moderate oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Realise that you should brush the egg white more generously on the next batch so that the nice glossy browned finish comes up more evenly.


Recipe makes about 25-30 biscuits.


Finally, lick the bowl. Share the biscuits with your friends and loved ones.

8 comments:

  1. Oh what fun! They look great - and like people dancing. I love your little "lessons learnt along the way" and matching nail polish accidental (I assume) co-ordination and gorgeous apron. We did similar analysis with the egg white, especially as we began with milk. We remembered should be egg white, when they didn't brown. I laughed when I saw the peeking kitten in your final photo. He wants to share too!

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    1. Many thanks (and yes, the co-ordination was a happy accident rather than contrived!). And that's Philip, the kitty! I bought him for The Cat once upon a time and he sits up there on the cupboard to cheer us. His name is a Mighty Boosh reference... but unfortunately I can't find a clip of the appropriate scene to share it!

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  2. These look so scrummy, obviously its vital to co-ordinate with your packaging ingredients! X

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    1. Co-ordinating with the packaging definitely adds an element of fun... and a challenge!

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  3. Oh they look fabulously yummy!! I must get out of my lazy weekends of pjs, laundry and chores to do some baking one of these days!! Definitely a recipe to try!!
    May x
    *WalkingInMay is currently running a GIVEAWAY...one SIGNED copy of Belinda Hay’s lovely book ‘Style Me Vintage’, please drop by to enter if you have time!*

    www.walkinginmay.com

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    1. It's dead easy and quick too, so you don't have to take too much time out of your lazy weekend to make them. And the beauty of baking is that you can quite easily do it in your pjs... so long as you're relatively tidy and don't get egg and butter all over them!

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