Kourabiethes (Brandy Sugar Biscuits)

site search by freefind advanced

 

~ Ingredients: ~ 5 cups or 450g Plain Flour ~ 1 tbsp baking powder ~ 1 cup of Mazola oil or 250g unsalted butter ~ 1/2 a cup100g caster sugar ~ 1 cup of toasted almonds roughly crushed ~ 2 egg yolks ~ 1 tsp vanilla powder ~ 1 tsp of baking soda ~ 4 tbsp brandy ~ Rose water ~ 2-3 cups of icing sugar (for coating)

 

~ In a large mixing bowl, beat together (about 45 minutes) the oil or butter until light and fluffy. ~ Add the caster sugar and egg yolks one at a time mixing well between each addition. ~ Add in the baking soda (diluted in the brandy), brandy crushed almonds and keep on mixing. ~ In another mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and the vanilla. ~ Add mixed flour to the butter mixture a little bit at a time mixing well. ~ Knead it lightly in the bowl until smooth. ~ All the above steps can be done with a mixer, if one available. ~ Roll walnut-sized pieces into a ball and then flatten between your palms and place them well apart on the baking pans. ~ You can make Kourabiethes any size and any shape you wish (round and long, moon shape, flat and round, etc). ~ Bake in a preheated oven to 350F, 180C, Gas Mark 4 for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. ~ Sift a quarter of the icing sugar onto a large platter. ~ Once cooked, remove the Kourabiethes from the oven and immediately place them on the icing sugar in the platter. ~ Sprinkle them with rose water and sift plenty of icing sugar over the top of them until they are completely covered. ~ Once the first row is cold, place a second row of Kourabiethes on top of the first ones and perform the previous step. ~ The above recipe can be done with or without the toasted almonds if you prefer. ~ Kourabiethes (Brandy Sugar Biscuits) traditionally are only done around Christmas time but they can also be done at any time you wish. ~ You have to be careful when they are eaten because they have a nick name called “Shockers” because of the icing sugar. ~ Good luck and enjoy.