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Coddure, a traditional Easter cookie

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Every time I see coloured sugar sprinkles on the grocery shelves, my mind comes back to these traditional Easter cookies.

The name “coddure”, crowns, comes from the Greek “Kollura” and indicades an Easter cookies with orthodox origins.

These cookies were produced by shepherds, brought with them during their travels through the countryside and the crown shape made them easy to hang on their arms. In the past young girls used to offer heart-shaped cuddura as a love message for their boyfriends.

On Easter time my mother used to spent one whole day baking this cookies, never alone, always with a couple of friends.

I spent the time playing in the kitchen where dozen and dozen eggs were boiled and kilos of flour kneaded with sugar and lard.

Then the dough were cutted out using several cardboard shapes: hearts, crowns, bells, rabbits.

It was a ritual, perpetued each year, always the same. “Coddure” were the Easter present for relatives, friends, neighbors.

A cookies swap, like a sort of chain and chatting each other about the best dough, the prettiest decorations and shapes was part of the game.

And also sharing different versions of the recipe, even if the year after everyone would have made cookies always following their own one !

Ingredients:

for the dough:

500 g. all purpose flour – 150 g. sugar – a pinch of salt – half teaspoon baking powder – 80 g. butter, soften – 30 g. honey – 1 egg + 1 egg yolk – full fat milk ( about 50 g.)

to finish:

6 eggs, hard boiled – 1 egg wash ( 1 egg yolk mixed with 2 tablespoons full fat milk) – coloured sugar sprinkles

In a big bowl mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Add the butter and using your finger points “pinch” butter and dry ingredients until you will obtain a mix similar to wet sandy. Add the yolk and the whole egg, knead adding some milk gradually. You need do obtain a smooth dough. Wrap in cling film and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees. On a floured wooden board roll the dough and cut out your favorite shapes. In a small bowl beat the egg yolk with milk. Use this egg wash to brush your cookies, place one hard boiled egg in the middle. Decorate with the sprinkle and bake for 20/30 minutes.

For 6 pieces + some cookies

Coddure, a traditional Easter cookie