Koulourakia (I know the name is very long) is one of my favorite foods from Greek culture. I was first introduced to them by my grandmother, whose parents came from Greece. Koulourakia itself is acookie that tastes like shortbread. This is how to make them.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 ½ cups sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

5 cups flour

3 eggs

¼ tablespoon anise, ground

¼ tablespoon cloves, ground

3 tablespoons baking powder

¼ cup milk

½ cup sesame seeds

1 egg, beaten with two tablespoons of milk(used as glaze)

Cream the butter until it is light and fluffy.  While beating, add the sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla. Then set aside. 

In a separate bowl, sift the flour and combine with the baking powder, anise and cloves. Slowly stir this into your butter mixture to form a soft dough. Knead with your hands until it is well blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Now shape your cookie. To do this, take a one-inch chunk of dough, then roll into a seven-inch long cord, and shape as you see in the picture.  

Place on a greased baking sheet and glaze the tops with egg-milk mixture.  Then sprinkle with sesame seeds and then set it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15-25 minutes until it is golden. Enjoy!