Greek Holiday Cookies (Serves 12)
1 ½ cups Light Olive Oil
1 cup Orange Juice
1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cloves
1 cup Sugar
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
6 cups Flour
½ cup Butter
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons Orange Zest, grated
2 Cups Semolina, finely ground
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
For Syrup
1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water -
1 1/2 Cups Honey
3/4 Cups Walnuts, finely chopped
1 Preheat oven to 350°F.
2 Add olive oil, orange juice, butter, cinnamon, cloves, sugar and orange zest in a bowl and then beat well until blended thoroughly.
3 Sift 1 cup flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt, then add into the oil mixture and mix well.
4 Add 1 cup semolina and mix. Add the remaining cup and mix again.
5 Next, add remaining flour, one cup at a time, until a firm dough is formed. Mix well using your hand.
6 Roll the dough into cylinders of 2” length and 1” diameter. Flatten with hands and put them on cookie sheets greased well with some olive oil.
7 Bake for 30 minutes.
8 Meanwhile, prepare the syrup by adding water, sugar and honey in a pot and bring to a boil. Cook over low heat for 4 minutes and remove the foam from the top, if any.
9 Remove cookies from the oven after 30 minutes and pour the hot syrup over them.
10 Sprinkle with half of the chopped walnuts and allow them to sit overnight.
11 Place the cookies on a serving platter, sprinkle remaining walnuts and serve.