Skaltsounia
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!
- 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
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.
Find it online: https://yumfamilyrecipes.com/skaltsounia/
