Kourabiedes (Greek Butter Cookies)
Tender, buttery Greek cookies infused with brandy and studded with whole cloves. Dusted warm with powdered sugar for a melt-in-your-mouth holiday treat.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Servings
- 24
- Calories
- 145
- Protein
- 1g
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 24 count whole cloves
- 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- 1
Set the oven to 350°F and wait for the heating light or beep to confirm it has reached temperature, about 10 minutes. This ensures even baking.
- 2
In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together for 3 minutes until pale and fluffy, scraping the bowl's sides halfway through.
- 3
Add the egg yolk and brandy to the butter mixture and beat on medium speed for 1 minute until fully combined and smooth.
- 4
Add the flour to the mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until a stiff, crumbly dough forms with no dry flour visible—do not overmix.
- 5
Pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a walnut (roughly 0.5 ounce) and roll it gently between your palms into an oval shape about 1.5 inches long.
- 6
Place the oval on an ungreased baking sheet and press one whole clove into the top center of each cookie so it sits flush with the surface.
- 7
Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing cookies 1 inch apart. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until the cookies are light golden on the bottom and feel firm to a light touch but are not browned.
- 8
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let cookies cool on the sheet for 2 minutes until they are firm enough to handle.
- 9
Working with 4–5 warm cookies at a time, place them in a small strainer or fine-mesh sieve and dust generously with powdered sugar, coating all sides.
- 10
Transfer the dusted cookies to a wire cooling rack and repeat with the remaining cookies until all are coated. Let cool completely before serving.
Tools you’ll need
- oven
- medium mixing bowl
- electric mixer
- wooden spoon
- baking sheet
- wire cooling rack
- small fine-mesh sieve or strainer
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