Alternative names | Easter biscuits |
---|---|
Type | Pastry |
Course | Dessert |
Place of origin | Greece |
Region or state | Greece, Pontos |
Serving temperature | Hot or cold |
Main ingredients | Butter |
Koulourakia [a] or Koulouria, [b] or kerkele in Pontic Greek, [1] are a traditional Greek dessert, typically made around Easter [2] to be eaten after Holy Saturday.
They are a butter-based pastry, traditionally hand-shaped, with egg glaze on top. They have a sweet delicate flavor with a hint of vanilla. Koulourakia are well known for their sprinkle of sesame seeds and distinctive ring shape. [2] In fact, the word is the diminutive form for a ring-shaped loaf or roll.[ citation needed ]
The pastries are traditionally shaped into spirals, but can be shaped into braided circles, [3] hairpin twists, figure eights, twisted wreaths, horseshoes or Greek letters. Often, a clove is added atop the center of the pastry for added flavor. They are commonly eaten with morning coffee or afternoon tea. Like all pastries, they are normally kept in dry conditions in a jar with a lockable lid.
Koulourakia have been prepared since at least the time of the Minoan civilization. [4] The Minoans sometimes prepared the pastries like small snakes, because they worshiped the snake for its healing powers.[ citation needed ]
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kransekage or Kransekake (Norwegian) is a traditional Danish and Norwegian confection, often eaten on special occasions in Scandinavia. In English, the name means 'wreath cake'. In Norway it is alternatively referred to as tårnkake and often prepared for Constitution Day celebrations, Christmas, weddings, and baptisms. In Denmark it is typically eaten as part of New Year celebrations, while a variation of the cake, overflødighedshorn, is traditionally served at weddings and baptisms.
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