Kourabiedes Recipe
Kourabiedes are shortbread biscuits, often made with almonds and traditionally baked for Christmas and other special occasions. They are usually shaped into crescents and dusted with icing sugar.
Ingredients
- 500 g butter, at room temperature
- 300 g corn oil
- 1 cup peeled and roasted almonds, roughly chopped
- Vanilla essence
- 1 ½ cups icing sugar, sifted (for sweeter cookies, add ½ cup more)
- 1 tot ouzo
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 ½-2 kg all-purpose flour
Method
- Beat the butter until light and creamy.
- Add the oil while whisking until emulsified.
- Add vanilla essence, soda dissolved in a little water, ouzo, sugar, and enough flour to form a soft dough. Add chopped almonds.
- Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- Shape dough into crescents and place on the baking sheet with space between each.
- Bake at 180°C for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool, then coat with sifted icing sugar.
- Arrange on a platter and enjoy!
Variation
You may keep the almonds whole and encase as many as you wish in each shortbread. After 10-15 minutes of baking, cut one cookie open with a fork - if ready, it should break easily, crumble, and have a soft texture. This recipe produces results better than many confectioners - success guaranteed!
