A delicious and beloved part of the Greek cuisine Greek biscuits are enjoyed by many people around the world – a fact which has been immortalised in the ‘Best Rated Cookies in the World’ list released by TasteAtlas, a website and mobile application that provides information about traditional dishes, ingredients, and beverages from various regions around the world.
Describing itself as "a world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants TasteAtlas collates authentic recipes, food critic reviews, and research articles about popular ingredients and dishes. The platform includes a comprehensive food and drink atlas, featuring over 10,000 dishes and drinks from more than 200 countries and territories.
In its most recently published list TasteAtlas has named Greece’s melomakarona in the top three of the best 100 cookies in the whole world.
Melomakarona is a traditional Greek dessert that is typically made and consumed during the Christmas season. They are sweet, honey-soaked cookies that are often spiced with cinnamon and cloves and are typically topped with chopped walnuts.
The ingredients used to make melomakarona include flour, sugar, olive oil, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest. The dough is typically rolled out into oval shapes and then baked until golden brown. Once they are done baking, they are soaked in a mixture of honey and water, which gives them their characteristic sweet and sticky texture.
Try our melomakarona recipe here.
Melomakarona are often served alongside another Greek Christmas dessert called kourabiedes, which ranked on the list also as the 19th Best Rated Cookie in the world.
Kourabiedes are buttery shortbread cookies that are coated in powdered sugar and together with melomakarona, these two desserts make up a popular and delicious part of the Greek Christmas tradition.
Try our kourabiedes recipe here.
Rated ahead of Kourabiedes, as the 14th Best Rated Cookie in the World is ‘moustokouloura’, a traditional Greek cookie made with grape must, which is the juice of freshly pressed grapes that still contains the skins, seeds, and stems. The cookies are usually small, round, and slightly flattened, with a distinctive crunchiness and a delicate, sweet flavour.
To make moustokouloura, grape must is combined with flour, sugar, and olive oil to form a dough that is then rolled into small balls and pressed down with a fork to create the traditional shape. The cookies are then baked in the oven until golden brown.
Moustokouloura is typically served with a cup of Greek coffee or tea and is often enjoyed as a snack or dessert. The use of grape must in the recipe adds a unique flavor and texture to the cookies, making them a popular choice among those looking to try traditional Greek cuisine.
Not to be overlooked though as one of the world’s best rated biscuit is amygdalotá (singular: amygdalotó) - traditional Greek almond cookies that are often served as a dessert or with coffee - in position number 24. These cookies are made primarily with almonds, sugar, and egg whites, and they have a slightly crisp exterior and a soft, chewy interior.
To make amygdalotá, ground almonds are mixed with sugar, egg whites, and almond extract to create a dough that is then rolled into small balls and flattened slightly. The cookies are then baked until they are lightly golden on the outside, but still soft and chewy on the inside.
Amygdalotá are a classic Greek cookie that can be found in bakeries throughout Greece. They are often served at holidays and special occasions, such as weddings and christenings. These cookies are known for their delicate almond flavor and their slightly sweet taste, and they are a popular choice among those looking to try traditional Greek desserts.
Try our amygdalotá recipe here.
Finally, rounding off the best 50 cookies in the world list in position 49 of 100 sits Paximathakia (singular: paximathaki) - a type of Greek biscotti that are traditionally made with flour, olive oil, and aniseed. The biscuits are baked twice to create a crunchy texture and are often served with coffee or tea.
To make paximathakia, flour, sugar, baking powder, aniseed, and salt are mixed together in a bowl. Olive oil and orange juice are then added to the mixture to create a dough. The dough is rolled out and cut into small, rectangular shapes, which are then baked in the oven until they are lightly golden brown.
After the first round of baking, the biscuits are removed from the oven and left to cool. Once they have cooled, they are placed back in the oven for a second round of baking to create a crispy, crunchy texture. Paximathakia are typically stored in an airtight container and can be enjoyed for several days.
Paximathakia are a popular snack in Greece and are often served with a variety of toppings, such as honey, tahini, or marmalade. They are a versatile biscuit that can be enjoyed at any time of day, and their crunchy texture and slightly sweet taste make them a favourite among those who appreciate traditional Greek cuisine.
Greek cuisine has a rich history and a variety of delicious sweets and pastries, including biscuits. Greeks have a long history of baking and pastry-making, so their biscuits are often made with recipes that have been passed down through generations, resulting in an authentic taste that reflects the country's culinary heritage. When it comes to rating biscuits, in our opinion any Greek biscuit is the best biscuit, so why not click through the links in the article to our recipes and you can try them all!
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