Skaltsounia, Lenten Filled Cookies

The Lenten Skaltsounia are Greek traditional cookies, with biscuit dough, filled with nuts, dried fruits, fruit preserve or jam.

   

Ingredients

(For 30 pieces)

Dough

400grams self raising flour, sifted  

200 ml extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil

100 ml white wine

50 ml fresh orange juice

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon orange zest

Filling

8 dried dates, pitted and chopped

5-6 pieces of orange preserve, chopped

100grams coarsely chopped walnuts

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Furthermore

Rose water (optional)

500 grams icing sugar for dusting

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Two pieces of wax paper (optional)

Instructions

 

Add all liquid ingredients and orange zest in a bowl and beat well to dissolve sugar.

Then add gradually the sifted flour, mix well but do not knead.

Form dough into a ball, wrap with plastic and put in a fridge for 30 minutes.

In another bowl mix all filling ingredients.

Divide dough into 30 small balls. Flatten each small ball in your palm, put a tablespoon of filling in the middle and close the dough around it.









Shape each Skaltsouni into crescent and place in a large non stick oven pan, covered with wax paper.

Bake in a preheated oven at 160º C in air for 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove cookies from oven and let them cool.

Sprinkle with rosewater and then with acing sugar and cinnamon.

Enjoy!