With Easter just around the corner and spring's colorful bounty finally here, we asked Nikki Glekas, owner of Nikki Glekas Events, to share one of her family's favorite recipes with us: Easter Koulourakia, a traditional Greek cookie she makes in festive colors.
EASTER KOULOURAKIA
These traditional cookies are often served with coffee or tea when visitors come over. I’m giving them an Easter twist!
Ingredients
1 c. (2 sticks) room temperature butter
1 ½ c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
4 eggs, plus one yolk for the egg wash
½ c. orange juice
½ t. baking soda
3 t. baking powder
6 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Food dye (I use pink, green, purple, and orange)
2 T. water
Sprinkles
Instructions
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Add softened butter to a large mixing bowl, and mix it to soften further.
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Add sugar and cream together until they are well incorporated and begin to become fluffy.
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Add 1 t. vanilla until incorporated
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In a cup, add baking soda to the orange juice, and let it begin to bubble. Slowly add to the butter mixture. Mix until combined.
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With the mixer on, add one egg at a time, combining fully before adding each egg.
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In a separate bowl, add baking powder to flour and lightly whisk to combine.
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Slowly add flour mixture to wet mixture, using the mixer to combine, until approx. one cup of flour remains.
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Using your hands, add the remaining flour slowly. Knead to fully combine. Once dough is fully combined, it should no longer stick to your hands.
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Divide the dough into four equal parts and, using gloves, take one portion of dough and add food dye and knead until fully combined. (You can add as much or as little food coloring as you want, but the less you use, the more muted the colors will be.) Repeat this step for all colors.
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Once all of the dough is dyed, place each color of dough in an airtight container and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours.
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Remove dough from refrigerator.
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Take about a 1-inch ball of dough, and roll out evenly to about 9 inches long and about ½-inch thick. Fold the dough in half and twist the two legs three times. Place directly on your baking sheet (I use nonstick baking sheets, or use parchment paper.)
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Continue until all of your dough has been used. Place cookies about a half-inch apart. (They will not spread when baking.)
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Brush the tops of your cookies with a simple egg wash (one yolk mixed with 2 T. water) and add some fun sprinkles on top.
- Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Makes roughly 6 dozen cookies
Nikki's Entertaining Tips
Want to create a gorgeous holiday table? Here are Nikki's suggestions for place settings your guests will remember.
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Mix old and new: Pair heirloom pieces with modern dishes or glassware. The contrast tells a story and keeps the table from looking too "perfect."
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Build in layers: Stack chargers, dinner plates, and napkins (either folded or with a napkin ring) to create depth.
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Keep centerpiece low and lush: Choose low florals, greenery, and candles so guests can actually see each other. Mix the elements to create a long wow factor.
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Place cards are a must!: Guests love knowing exactly where they should sit—it instantly removes the awkward shuffle and makes everyone feel thought of. Tie your place cards into the decor by using matching elements: for example, Easter eggs for springtime, pumpkins for fall, or pine cones or ornaments for the holidays. It's functional and decorative; your place cards become part of the tablescape rather than an afterthought.
Nikki Glekas is the founder and CEO of The Nikki Glekas Collective, an assembly of culinary and event concepts hallmarked by creative ingenuity, sharp eye for detail, and seriously delicious food. She is also the host of Nikki’s Modern Mediterranean, a YouTube show that features her family’s Greek recipes. To learn more, visit nikkiglekascollective.com