Recipes for the Web

Barrington Software Incorporated

IKARIAN EASTER BISCUITS (KOULOURAKIA)

NYT 04/11/01

Time: 1 1/2 hours plus 30 minutes' resting time

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 pound plus 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons grated orange rind

1 egg yolk

1 to 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice, strained, for glaze.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-size bowl.

2. In an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together at high speed until fluffy. Add eggs one at a

time, beating well after each. Slowly add milk and vanilla, and beat in. Add orange rind and mix

well. Slowly add flour mixture to liquid, mixing until a dough mass begins to form. Move to a lightly

floured surface, and knead until a smooth dough forms. Rest dough for 30 minutes.

3. Break off walnut-size pieces of dough one at a time, and roll into skinny ropes about 6 inches

long. Shape these into twists, braids, coils or serpentines, making sure all biscuits are more or

less the same size, so that they bake evenly.

4. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. About half way through

baking, brush with egg yolk mixed with orange juice. Biscuits should be lightly golden. Cool on a

rack, and store in a jar or tin in a cool, dry place.

Yield: About 4 dozen.