Moustokouloura (Moo-stoh_KOU_lou-rha) are Greek cookies made with Petimezi (peh-tee-MEH-zee), a concentrated syrup made of grape juice, which is used as a sweetener.
“Moustokouloura“, from “moustos” (grape must) and “koulouria” (cookies), are perfect for breakfast, for a snack or with a cup of coffee.
They are “nistisima – Lenten”, healthy, full of aroma but most of all delicious!
If you want to make them vegan, just substitute honey with more petimezi or brown sugar.
These were based on my previous recipe but I added honey, cocoa powder, to make them darker and red fortified Cypriot wine.
Not just any wine but the famous Cypriot wine called Commandaria.
For those who do not know, what petimezi or grape molasses is, it is a natural sweetener made from fresh grape juice.
The juice is boiled until it is reduced to 10% or its original volume, until it becomes a concentrated “syrup”.
I do not like the term “syrup” because it implies that it is made with sugar, whereas it 100% natural.
So, in order to get 1 cup of petimezi, we need 10 cups of fresh grape juice.
Petimezi is a very healthy sweetener because it strengthens the immune system and is rich in B vitamins. It is also rich in iron and calciumin and boosts energy.
It has a complex sweet taste, with hints of caramel but also some hints of sourness.
Benefits of Petimezi (Grape Molasses)
It increases blood in body
Gives energy
Is an appetizer
Beneficial for pregnancy and baby development
Strengthens stomach, intestines and kidneys
Good against arteriosclerosis
Relieves blood circulation
Disclaimer: The above is not medical advice but just for your information.
Here are some more recipes with petimezi
Petimezi (grape molasses) is a natural sweetener made from fresh grape juice. You can use it instead of honey or other sweetener Moustokouloura, pronounced Moo-stoh_KOU_lou-ra, are Greek cookies made with either fresh grape juice or petimezi, which is concentrated grape syrup. Palouzes, in Cypriot dialect or Moustalevria, is a pudding made with either fresh grape juice during autumn or with concentrated grape juice (petimezi or epsima, in Cypriot) when no fresh juice is available. Palouzes or Moustalevria, is a pudding made with either fresh grape juice during autumn or with concentrated grape juice when no fresh juice is available. Milopita is the Greek word for apple pie and this Greek “milopita” is made with “epsima”, a concentrated grape syrup, which gives it its unique taste. Halvas (plural halvades) is a Greek semolina pudding, variations of which are found in many cultures. What would the world be without pudding, especially if it is a chocolate one! Puddings are the most easy desserts to make and this is an opportunity for you as a cook, to make sensational desserts in no time! Knowing how to make pudding from scratch is like winning the Oscar for desserts. Enjoy these spicy and soft chocolate chip petimezi cookies on the cold winter days ahead as they are great with a cup of tea or a hot cup of Greek coffee. Kattimerka, is a traditional pastry dessert, similar to pischies but instead of being fried, these are cooked in a traditional frying pan called sadji. Sadji resembles like the Arab Saj, however, unlike the Arab saj, which is dome shaped, the Cypriot sadji resembles more like a wok. You can use a wok or any non-stick sautéing pan.Other Recipes with Petimezi
Moustokouloura with Fresh Grape Juice and Anthotyros
“Must†make Palouzes (Moustalevria) and Shoushoukos
Greek Upside Down Milopita me Epsima (Apple Pie)
Halvas with Petimezi, Walnuts and Watermelon Rind Preserve
Chocolate Pudding with Petimezi and Charoupomelo
Dark Chocolate Chip and Petimezi Cookies
Kattimerka (Katimeria)
Commandaria is known since antiquity and from the Cypriot viniculture the Portuguese produced Madeira and Port.
A similar Greek wine is Mavrodaphne or Vin Santo, produced in Santorini.
You can also substiitute Commandaria with Italian Marsala or the Hungarians Tokay.
To make these Greek cookies, just make a long cord around 20 cm (8”) and then join the cord to make them round.
You can also make them in other simple shapes, such as coils, “S” shape or the cord is folded in the middle and then just twisted twice (see my Easter cookies).
The simplest form is to make them into thick cords and then cut them into pieces.
Moustokouloura me Koumandaria (Must Cookies with Cypriot Red Sweet Wine)
Moustokouloura are delicious Greek cookies made with grape must or concentrated grape syrup, called petimezi in Greek.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of mild, extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup petimezi (grape molasses)
- 1/4 cup honey
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup of brandy
- 1/2 cup Commandaria Wine
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 50 grams (1.7 oz) unsweetened cocoa (optional)
- 600 grams (1.3 lbs) all-purpose flour
- 35 grams (1.2 oz) sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl add olive oil, petimezi, brandy, Commandaria, orange zest and honey and mix with a balloon whisk.
- Dissolve the baking soda in the orange juice (attention as it will bubble) and add it to the other wet ingredients.
- Sift the flour with baking powder, cocoa powder and spices and mix in the salt.
- Add the flour mixture gradually and mix with your hand until the dough is not sticky on in the bowl or your fingers. (You can do this in your stand mixer using the hook).
- Line a baking tin with parchment paper and preheat oven to 180o C / 350o F.
- Divide the dough into pieces of 50 - 55 grams (1.7 - 1.9 oz) maximum.
- Shape as you like and place in the tin, spaced apart.
- The first batch of 13 cookies was shaped into cords 3 cm (1.2”) diametre, rolled into sesame seeds, and were cut around 10 cm (4”) long. These were baked for 17 minutes.
- The remaining 13 were also shaped as above but were cut in the middle to make 24 smaller ones. These were baked for 15 minutes.
Notes
The cookies may seem soft but they will firm up as they cool.
If you do not want to add the cocoa powder, substitute that amount with flour.
Nutrition Information
Yield 26 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 157Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 0mgSodium 89mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 3g
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
