Melomakarona are delicious Cypriot honey soaked cookies traditionally made with almonds. They are enjoyed throughout the year, but in particular at Christmas time, when many households make them and give them to friends and neighbours as a token of goodwill and peace.
HOW TO MAKE MELOMAKARONA
Ingredients:
1 cup of olive oil
1/2 a cup of sugar
1/2 a cup of orange juice
1/4 of A cup of brandy
1 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
1/2 a tsp of ground cloves
1/4 a tsp of ground nutmeg
4 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of honey
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
1 cinnamon stick
The zest of 2 oranges
1 cup of chopped walnuts
Instructions:
Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sugar, orange juice, brandy, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Gradually add the flour to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Shape the dough into small ovals and place them on a pre-prepared baking tray.
Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
While the cookies are baking, prepare the syrup by combining the honey, water, sugar, cinnamon stick, and the zest of 1 orange in a saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Once the cookies have finished baking, immediately dip them into the hot syrup, making sure to coat them completely.
Allow the cookies to soak in the syrup for a few seconds, then allow them to cool.
While the cookies are still warm, sprinkle them with the chopped walnuts and the zest of the 2nd orange.
Let the melomakarona cool completely before serving.
