Let’s be honest: melomakarona are the ultimate Christmas sweet, loved by everyone. Each year, we lose count of how many we eat - but then again, we only make them once a year, so maybe indulging a little is perfectly acceptable.

Translation | Amaryllis Tsegou

These cookies are a tradition worth keeping: rich with oil, scented with orange, and packed with flavor. Following the classic method of our mothers and grandmothers, we can recreate that warm, festive taste in our own kitchens.

Recipe tip

Do not add the honey at the beginning of making the syrup, as it will lose its flavor and aroma.

Ingredients

(for about 50–60 cookies)

For the cookies:

  • 3 cups olive oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ cup brandy
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon and ground cloves
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 9 cups all-purpose flour
  • butter for greasing the baking tray
  • 1-2 cups finely chopped walnuts for serving

For the Syrup:

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 3 cups honey
  • 3 cups water

Directions

Make the cookies:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and sugar until the sugar dissolves. (Optionally, beat briefly with a mixer.)
  2. Mix the baking soda with the orange juice until dissolved, then add to the oil-sugar mixture. Stir in the orange zest, brandy, cinnamon, and cloves until fully combined.
  3. Sift the flour, then mix the first cup with the baking powder. Add this mixture to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Gradually add the remaining flour while kneading gently. The dough may not absorb all the flour, so don’t add it all at once. Use soft, upward, and crosswise movements to knead, being careful not to overwork the dough.
  4. Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and grease a baking tray with butter.
  5. Take small portions of dough, roll them into balls, and then shape them into elongated cookies. Place them on the tray. Using a fork, a special tool, or even a grater, create decorative patterns on the tops of the cookies.
  6. Bake the melomakarona for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.

Prepare the syrup:

  1. While the cookies bake, prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, boil the water and sugar, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Once it reaches a boil, add the honey and stir. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Finish with the syrup:

  1. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, dip them in the syrup a few at a time, letting them soak up plenty of syrup.
  2. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a serving platter.
  3. Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts and let them cool completely.
More Christmas recipes to try: