How to Make Koulourakia Lathera (Cookies with Olive Oil)

Koulourakia cookies are favorites all over Greece. They are sold in bakeries, but they are much tastier (and less expensive) when made at home. These sesame cookies are made in small ovals and rings.

They are a great gift idea - packed in an airtight container.

In conjunction with the Small Sesame Cookies recipe, let's take a look at how the cookies are formed for baking.

In this photo, you can see the texture of the dough. It's quite soft and oily.

Take a piece of dough the size of an unshelled walnut and squeeze it into a dense ball. (To make larger cookies, start with a larger piece of dough.)

At the top of the photo, you can see sesame seeds.

Roll out the cookie into a tube shape, about 3 inches long.

Dip the cookie into the sesame seeds.

The cookies need just a light coating of seeds.

Pat the cookie lightly to form a rounded oval shape and push the seeds or nuts into the surface of the dough. If they're left just sitting on top of the dough, they could burn during cooking.

To make rings, form the rope into a ring and pinch the ends together.

Place the cookies in very lightly oiled pans or on non-stick cookie sheets. Leave a little space in between.

Enjoy!