Yia-Yia's Cookies - A Greek Tradition You Can Taste

My grandmother - my Yia-Yia - came from Gytheio, a seaside town in Southern Greece.  Her mother and grandmother made these same cookies.  She never used a formal recipe; she baked by memory, instinct, love, the occasional eye-roll and the inherited wisdom from generations of women who measured everything in "a pinch" or "just enough."  I watched her make these cookies as a kid, standing on a stool, sneaking tastes, knowing I was witnessing magic.  Watching her bake was like watching a magician.

I've spent the last ten years trying to recreate her recipe.  Every time I didn't get it right, I could feel her judging me from the afterlife.  I kept going - testing, tweaking, tasting - until one day, I took a bite, and suddenly I was back in her kitchen again.  Sometimes, the most meaningful recipes are the ones that take the longest to get right.

I've worked to create that perfect taste - golden, crunchy, just sweet enough - because some things are too special not to share.  They're Greek paximadia, like biscotti but even better.  While often enjoyed with coffee or tea, they can also be eaten on their own anytime, anywhere - breakfast, dessert, late-night snack.  Crunchy, golden, dunkable, dangerously addictive - they're that versatile.  Made with love, memory, a little inherited stubbornness, and maybe a touch of ghostly supervision from my grandmother.  Yia-Yia's Cookies are crafted with simple, real ingredients, and lots of care.  I hope they remind you of someone you love - or at least make your coffee breaks a little more delicious.

From my family to yours - Kali orexi! (That means "Bon Appetit" in Greek.  And yes, my grandmother would expect you to eat at least three.)

Bringing Greece Home, One Cookie At a Time