Mini “Melomakarona” for the Elves

No argue. Elves work hard. Very very hard. So they need a lot of protein and a lot of food that gives them stamina and energy.

Mrs Claus tries to feed them a healthy diet full of whole grains, fruits, salads and nutritious soups. But what the elves really want is sugar. They love candies, lollypops, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, puddings….they just cant have enough.

Mrs Claus feels helpless. “Is there anything I can do not to derive our elves a Christmas treat, but offer them something energy boosting and with no sugar?

Yes Mrs Claus there is. Trick the elves with a healthy traditional Greek Christmas Treat. No Sugar Melomakarona made with olive oil. Easy to make, very healthyand absolutely delicious.

** To get the Elf Shoes template and serve your “Melomakarona” this unique way, send us your e-mail at: kalli@thejuicytomatoes.com

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Hands on: 20 minutes

Portion: 40 small melomakarona

Ingredients

For the syrup

2 cups honey

2 cups water

1 cinnamon stick

1 whole clove

For the honey cookies

200gr (7 ounces) fresh orange juice

280gr (9.9 ounces) olive oil

600gr (21.2 ounces) all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

grated zest of one orange

For the garnish

Honey

Chopped Walnuts or pistachio nuts (optional)

For the elf shoes

Festive Card Stock for the Shoe Collar Green Cardstock Double Sided Tape

Ribbon

Little Jingle Bells

Hole Puncher Clear Cellophane Thread

Elf shoes template**

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How to do it

1. In a pot, add all of the syrup ingredients. As soon as the syrup begins to boil, lower the heat at medium temperature and remove the foam formed at the surface using a big spoon. Then boil the syrup in medium-low temperature for 10 minutes.

2. Keep in mind that you want to prepare the syrup 3-4 hours before you begin making the honey cookies so that it has enough time to completely cool by the time the cookies come out of the oven.

3. Preheat the oven to 180o C (350o F) fan.

4. In a large bowl add the orange juice and the baking soda. Small bubbles will form at the surface due to the soda.

5. Then add the olive oil, the cinnamon, the clove and the grated orange zest. Mix the ingredients using your hand.

6. Time to add the flour. Do it slowly, and mix very gently using your hands. Do not mix too long (more than 15 seconds), because the mixture will split. Mix just to combine all the ingredients.

7. Shape the mixture into small balls. Press the balls down with your hand to form round cookies (4 cm diameter).

8. Transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper.

9. Bake for about 25-30 minutes until golden and crunchy.

10. When ready, remove from the oven and immediately add the honey cookies to the cool syrup, flipping them with a slotted spoon to absorb the syrup for approximately 5-10 second per side. Do so in 2-3 batches. Do not syrup all of them at once.

11. Remove the cookies with the slotted spoon, place them on a platter and let them cool completely.

12. When they are cool, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with grated walnuts or pistachios.

** To get the Elf Shoes template and serve your “Melomakarona” this unique way, send us your e-mail at: kalli@thejuicytomatoes.com