Greek Inspired Orange Cookies

I LOVE Greek food, well I love all food, but Greek is one of my top 10 faves.  This recipe came about after visiting a Bakery that had a number of Greek sweets.  For those of you who aren't aware, Victoria (Australia) has the highest concentration of Greeks outside of Greece anywhere in the world.  So it's natural to have Bakeries and Cafe's that have wonderful items from Greece or a that specialise in Greek cuisine. As I wasn't keen on paying the prices they charged (over a $1 per cookie!) I thought "surely I can make these at home", so I did!

This cookie has a dense shortbread-ish texture that is made for dunking into a hot drink.  Greek's are know for their love of coffee and most of their cookies have an almost rusk like texture.  When dunked into a hot drink it becomes like a sponge and soaks up all the wonderful flavours (without falling into the cup as fast as other cookies do due to their denseness).  I'm a not coffee drinker, but I love Hot Chocolate.  A rich Orange cookie in Hot Chocolate creates a Choc-Orange flavour sensation.

The dough can be rolled and cut into shapes using a cookie cutter, rolled into shapes (S's or pretzel looking shapes) or do as I did and create a log and slice.  If you have children, this dough is great for little ones to help with.

This recipe is so easy adapted and can be swapped for lemon.  I have also made these almond flavour with great success, simply add 1 teaspoon of almond extract, swap the OJ for milk and leave out the zest.  Half a cup of toasted and chopped nuts (almonds would work well) is a nice addition.  This recipe will yield 30-40 cookies depending on how you cut them.

Recipe:

1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon Ward's baking powder

Pre-heat your oven to 175oC (350oF) and prepare to large cookie sheets covered with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar for a full 5 minutes (until creamy and pale) remembering to scrape down the sides once.
Add in the yolks and juice and beat for a further 2 - 3 minutes
Add in half the flour and Ward's baking powder, beat to incorporate.
Add the remaining flour and beat again to combine.
Use your hands to pull out half the dough and shape into a long sausage (about 6cm or 1.5 inches wide).
Use a sharp knife to make diagonal slices about 1 cm (just under 1/2 and inch) apart.
Place on one of the prepared trays, leaving a small distance between each cookie (they don't spread very much).
Repeat with the other half of the dough.
Place the trays in the pre-heated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes checking after 18 minutes.

Happy Cooking!
Elizabeth
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