Skaltsounia

Why You’ll Love Skaltsounia Recipe

Skaltsounia are traditional Cretan pastries filled with soft cheese and flavored with honey, cinnamon, and orange zest. Often made for Easter and festive occasions, they’re tender, lightly sweet, and dusted with sugar or drizzled with honey. These delightful little pastries perfectly balance creamy filling with a golden, flaky crust. Whether enjoyed with coffee or as a dessert, they bring a true taste of Crete to your table.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1/2 cup orange juice

• 1/4 cup raki (or white wine, optional)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 tbsp sugar

• Pinch of salt

For the Filling:

• 2 cups mizithra cheese (or ricotta if unavailable)

• 2 tbsp honey

• 1 egg yolk

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp orange zest

For Serving:

• Powdered sugar OR honey drizzle

• Extra cinnamon for dusting (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the dough: In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add olive oil, orange juice, and raki. Knead until a soft, elastic dough forms. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.

2. Make the filling: In another bowl, combine mizithra cheese, honey, egg yolk, cinnamon, and orange zest. Mix until smooth.

3. Shape pastries: Roll dough into thin sheets. Cut into circles (about 3–4 inches). Place a spoonful of filling in the center, fold into half-moons, and press edges with a fork to seal.

4. Bake: Place on a baking tray lined with parchment. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, until golden.

5. Serve: Cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with honey.

Servings and Timing

• Servings: About 20 pastries

• Prep Time: 25 minutes

• Cook Time: 25 minutes

• Total Time: ~50 minutes

Variations

• Fried Skaltsounia: Instead of baking, fry in olive oil until golden and crisp.

• Nutty Twist: Add ground walnuts or almonds to the filling.

• Holiday Style: Sprinkle with sesame seeds before baking for extra crunch.

• Vegan Option: Use vegan cheese and omit the egg yolk in the filling.

Storage/Reheating

• Room Temperature: Keep in an airtight container up to 3 days.

• Fridge: Store up to 5–6 days.

• Freezer: Freeze unbaked pastries and bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.

FAQs

Q: Can I make Skaltsounia without mizithra cheese?
Yes—ricotta, mascarpone, or even farmer’s cheese make great substitutes.

Q: Are they supposed to be very sweet?
Traditionally, the filling is mildly sweet, and most of the sweetness comes from the honey drizzle or powdered sugar.

Q: Do they have to be crescent-shaped?
No—some regions shape them into small triangles, squares, or even little pouches.

Conclusion

Skaltsounia are more than just pastries—they’re a piece of Cretan tradition wrapped in a golden crust. With their creamy cheese filling, fragrant cinnamon, and touch of honey, these pastries are delicate, comforting, and festive. Perfect for holidays, celebrations, or simply to enjoy with a warm cup of coffee, they’re a recipe worth keeping in your collection.

Skaltsounia

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Skaltsounia are traditional Greek pastries made especially during festive seasons like Christmas and Easter. These little hand pies are filled with a sweet mixture of walnuts, almonds, or sesame seeds, often flavored with honey, cinnamon, and orange zest, then baked until golden and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. Each bite is nutty, fragrant, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

• Author: Emily
• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: About 20 pastries
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Greek
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

• For the Dough:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup olive oil (or a mix of olive oil & vegetable oil)
• ½ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed)
• ¼ cup brandy (or ouzo/tsipouro, optional)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• Zest of 1 orange
• Pinch of salt
• For the Filling:
• 1 ½ cups walnuts (or a mix of walnuts & almonds), finely chopped
• ½ cup sesame seeds, lightly toasted
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves (optional)
• 2 tbsp breadcrumbs (to absorb excess moisture)
• For Topping:
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

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Instructions

• Prepare the filling: In a bowl, combine chopped nuts, sesame seeds, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined and sticky.
• Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, brandy, sugar, orange zest, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft, pliable dough forms.
• Shape the pastries: Roll out dough to about ⅛ inch thick. Cut into circles (about 3–4 inches wide). Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle, fold over into a half-moon shape, and pinch edges to seal.
• Bake: Place pastries on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, until lightly golden.
• Finish & serve: Let cool slightly, then generously dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

• Skaltsounia vary by region: some versions use sweet myzithra cheese instead of nuts.
• Best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
• For extra flavor, drizzle with honey just before serving.