Shortbread Christmas Trees

by Peter G on December 13, 2009

in Greek Food, Recipes

Greek kourabiethes shaped as Christmas trees

I’m always looking at ways to “shake things up”.  Especially when it comes to traditional Greek recipes. I love adding my own spin on things and this is exactly what I have done with these festive Christmas cookies. I’ve taken the kourabiethes recipe I made last year and changed them a little by shaping them as Christmas trees.  I quite like the effect actually, and the icing sugar seems to add a “snow” feeling to the biscuits.

Greek shortbread ingredients

I pretty much stuck to the same recipe except this time I added some pistachios to the mix.  I got that idea from my blog friend and colleague, Ivy from Kopiaste who made a recipe for kourabiethes using pistachios.  Thanks Ivy!   These were delicious!  I’m going to post another twist to a traditional Greek biscuit in the coming days all in the name of Christmas spirit and fun!  So tell me.  How much baking do you do at Christmas?

Greek Xmas shortbread served as afternoon tea

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December 15, 2009 at 3:04 am

{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Rosa December 13, 2009 at 5:10 pm

So pretty and tempting!

Cheers,

Rosa

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2 Rose December 13, 2009 at 6:02 pm

Hello. I like you! And I love shortbread almost as much as I love bread and double entendres.

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3 Peter G December 13, 2009 at 6:13 pm

I like you too Rose! Pleasure to meet you yesterday…

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4 Alessandro Guerani December 13, 2009 at 6:03 pm

Oh my! I love shortbreads! And pistachios are a great idea I never tested before even if there are various south italian recipes that use them (especially sicilian ones). I’m bookmarking this recipe for the forthcoming festivities in case I’ll have to prepare some food for friends ;)

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5 Ivy December 14, 2009 at 12:33 am

What a coincidence Peter. I wanted to make them into Christmas trees but the cookie cutter I had with a shape of a tree was tiny, so this year I made them star and flower shaped. I posted the pictures on facebook but it will be my next post. I made something new this year.

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6 Angela@spinachtiger December 14, 2009 at 12:46 am

I want to try this or the one I still can’t pronounce. Peter, you stage your food so beautifully and yet there is a touch of “home” alongside your sophistication. I really enjoy my visits here.

How much baking do I do? A lot, but I’m behind. I make an outstanding fudge that people ask for every year and cookies. I usually make about 25 pounds of the fudge, and ten tins of cookies. I’ll be starting tomorrow.

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7 Marc @ NoRecipes December 14, 2009 at 1:28 am

I’m normally don’t do much baking for the holiday’s (or any time of the year for that matter), but recent events have me rethinking that strategy, and this looks like a great excuse to turn on the oven.

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8 Simone van den Berg December 14, 2009 at 2:30 am

These look lovely Peter and you’re right; the icing sugar does give it that lovely christmassy feeling! I am looking at them and then looking out the window where everything is turning white too and I start singing “White christmas” spontaneously..! :)

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9 Trissa December 14, 2009 at 2:38 am

Oh- were these the cookies you were referring to in the picnic? The ones you styled in the morning? They are gorgeous! So classy… I do tons of baking during Christmas – I have to in fact bake some cookies for my sister this evening…

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10 Patricia Scarpin December 14, 2009 at 9:04 am

These are so pretty, Peter! And the photos… Breathtaking. Love how Christmassy they look.

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11 Donalyn December 14, 2009 at 11:34 am

These look wonderful!

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12 Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen December 14, 2009 at 12:46 pm

So cute…and yummy! :)

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13 Núria December 14, 2009 at 12:48 pm

They look so lovely Peter! Ivy is such a great cook :D .
Up to date, I haven’t been able to find pistachios without salt on them… amazing Ugh?

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14 Peter December 14, 2009 at 2:18 pm

Shortbreads are still my fave cookie (any time of year) and you have a tea service multi-level tray that I want!

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15 Peter G December 14, 2009 at 5:49 pm

$10 at Target Peter!…LOL!

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16 bellini valli December 15, 2009 at 1:38 am

Baking cookies is not one of my strengths Peter, but I did manage to pump out about 5 different simple recipes. These shortbread will remind you of the snow you keep hearing about here in this hemisphere.

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17 Sophia December 15, 2009 at 4:50 am

My mum must bake at least a thousand kourabiedes a year. They are always on the go at our house, not just at xmas. For many years to amuse my niece and nephew she used a xmas tree and star cookie cutter to make kourabiedes. Until I saw your post I thought she was the only one. Keep baking everyone and merry christmas.

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18 Peter G December 15, 2009 at 4:51 am

Thank you Sophia! Merry Xmas to you as well..all the best for 2010

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19 Fuji Mama December 17, 2009 at 2:18 pm

These look delish! I bake a ton at Christmas. So much, in fact, that the kitchen tends to look a bit like a war zone until about January 8th.

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20 Nic December 20, 2009 at 6:58 am

These are beautiful Peter, very festive!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

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21 MPG December 20, 2009 at 6:25 pm

that is such a snowy goodness :) the shapes are really cute peter!

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