Greek Cookies with Honey
Ingredients
Cookies
1 Cup Light olive oil
1 Cup Vegetable oil
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Cognac or Brandy
Zest of 1 Orange
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
7 1/2 Cups All purpose Flour (divided into two portions 3 3/4 each)
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Orange Juice
Syrup
1 Cup Honey
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Walnuts, finely chopped
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cookies
In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, vegetable oil, and sugar by hand until combined. Stir in the Cognac and Orange Zest.
Add Cinnamon and the Baking Soda to the wet ingredients. In a small bowl, combine Baking Powder and Orange Juice, stirring well as mixture fizzes; set aside.
Using your hands, slowly incorporate about half (3 3/4) cups of the Flour, 1 Cup at a time, into the wet ingredients in a larger bowl. Then stir in the Orange Juice mixture. Add the remaining Flour (3 3/4 cups) as needed to form a firm yet sticky dough. More or less flour may be needed depending on consistency.
Roll the dough into small balls that are roughly 1 inch across and then pinch in the middle to create an oval. Flatten the top slightly. Space cookies 2 inches apart on a ungreased baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned. Cool completely on parchment paper.
Syrup
In a saucepan, combine the honey, sugar and water. Bring to a light boil and, stirring constantly, cook 10 minutes.
Immerse cooled cookies in the syrup for 20 to 30 seconds; remove with a slotted spoon and place in cupcake liners. Be sure to keep the syrup warm during this process. Immediately top with crushed Walnuts.
