Recipe: Kourambiethes (Greek Christmas Sweets)

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Description/Notes:

These delightful little sugar coated biscuits have a delicious brandy, cinnamon and almond flavour. They are the traditional Christmas sweets in Greece where it is customary to prepare them in every home although they are now to be found in most Greek cakeshops and supermarkets during the festivities

Ingredients:

16 fl. oz. (450 ml.) olive oil

4 oz. (125g) sugar

1 whole egg and 1 yolk

1 tbsp. ground cinnamon

4 tbsps brandy

4 oz. (125g) almonds, roasted and coarsely ground

1 lb. (450g) flour

icing suagar for coating

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pour the olive oil into a large bowl and beat in the sugar
2. Add the eggs, almonds, cinnamon, almonds and brandy and beat again
3. Carefully add the flour until the dough is a soft consistency that will not stick to your hands
4. Divide the dough into pieces the size of a walnut and shape kourambiethes into rounds, oblongs and ovals
5. Place on an oiled baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven at 350F, Gas Mark 4, 180C for 15-20 minutes
6. Allow to cool a little then sift icing sugar over them, covering them completely