• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
This Delicious House
  • Easy Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads & Sides
    • Desserts & Treats
    • Drinks
    • Special Occasion Menus
    • Other Deliciousness
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Home » Recipes

Greek Butter Cookies

Published: Dec 7, 2019 · Modified: Oct 21, 2021 by Angela Allison · This post may contain affiliate links.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Delicious and easy to make Greek Butter Cookies, also known as Greek Wedding Cookies or Kourabiedes, are the perfect recipe to have on hand for every occasion. Simple ingredients and instructions, you’re going to love these delicious traditional Greek cookies.

Greek Butter Cookies on a cooling rack.

Similar to a classic shortbread cookies, Greek Butter Cookies are a staple at any Greek wedding or get together. And for good reason too! They are simple to make and such a crowd pleaser.

Recently, I made this recipe for my daughters class. They were learning about Ancient Greece and this was the perfect addition to their Greek party. The kids loved the Kourabiedes and the recipe yielded enough for her entire class and some for me to keep at home.

Greek butter cookies stacked on a white plate.

This is a great recipe to use if you need to make cookies for a crowd. I love to make these for cookie exchanges or anytime I need a simple cookie that’s ready fast.

Looking for other delicious cookie exchange recipes? Be sure to check out these Italian Thumbprint Cookies made with fig spread and almonds, and these best-ever Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. And, if you love pistachios, don’t miss this classic Italian Pistachio Cookies! For a fun and unique cookie, give these Tiramisu Cookies a try!

Greek Butter Cookies Recipe

This recipe is super simple and comes together quickly. I always make it using my KitchenAid Stand Up Mixer; it just makes cooking so much easier!

Firstly, you want to make sure you are starting with room temperature butter – four sticks for this recipe! Yes, it’s a lot of butter, but you are making a lot of cookies. Also, the butter MUST be room temperature so that it melds together with sugar and other ingredients.

Place all four sticks of butter in the mixer and add in the sugar. Next, cream together the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes should work.

Butter and sugar creamed together in a stand up mixer.

Add in the eggs and extracts; mix to combine. Lastly, add in the flour and slowly mix until just combined. Also, the fact that there isn’t a leavening agent in this recipe isn’t a typo; it simply isn’t necessary here!

The dough will be soft and slightly sticky. Here, I used my Wilton cookie scoop to portion out the dough into round balls. However, if you wanted to roll the cookies into shapes, like the traditional “S”, simply chill for a couple of minutes before shaping.

cookie scoop portioning dough on to baking mat.

You could just leave the cookies shaped as is out of the cookie scoop, or use your hands to roll into balls.

rolling dough into balls on baking mat.

Finally, bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the cookies are set. Note that these won’t turn brown when done.

Cool and Dust with Powdered Sugar

Let the cookies cool on the baking mats before moving to a wire cooling rack. The cookies must be completely cooled before sprinkling on the powdered sugar.

Greek Butter cookies cooling on a wire cooling rack.

Dust the cooled cookies with powdered sugar. To do this, move the rack of cookies to a large baking sheet. Place the powdered sugar in a fine mesh sieve and tap gently while moving the sieve over the tops of the cookies.

Greek Butter cookies getting dusted with powdered sugar.

To serve, pile the cookies high on a plate. Alternatively, place a cookie or two in a cupcake liner for mess-free serving.

cookies served in muffin liners for mess free eating.

You can store these delicious Greek Butter Cookies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month. Enjoy!

Greek Butter Cookies on a cooling rack.

Greek Butter Cookies

Greek Butter Cookies, also known as Greek Wedding Cookies or Kourabiedes, are a simple and delicious recipe any time of year. Note that this is a large batch recipe that makes 6 dozen cookies: the recipe can easily be halfed with excellent results. I recommend using a stand up mixer if you have one.
5 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 72 cookies
Calories: 95kcal
Author: Angela Allison
Cost: 8-10

Equipment

  • Stand up mixer fitted with paddle attachment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups butter, room temperature (4 sticks)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 5 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mats; set aside.
  • In a stand up mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed for 5 minutes. Add in the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract, and mix to combine, scrapping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the flour and mix on slow until just combined.
    Butter and sugar creamed together in a stand up mixer.
  • Use a cookie scoop to measure out equal portions of cookies and place on baking sheet leaving about an inch and a half between each cookie. You can either bake as is or roll into balls.
    rolling dough into balls on baking mat.
  • Bake for 12-14 minutes until dough is just set. The cookie will not brown much and will remain a light color. Let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack and cooling completely.
    Greek Butter cookies cooling on a wire cooling rack.
  • Once cooled, dust the top of the cookies with the powdered sugar in a fine mesh sieve.
    Greek Butter cookies getting dusted with powdered sugar.

Notes

Make ahead and store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for up to a month. To make shapes out of the cookies, like the classic “S-shaped” cookie, chill the dough slightly and roll on a lightly floured surface into desired shape. 

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @thisdelicioushouse or tag #ThisDeliciousHouse!
« Cranberry Orange Cake
Limoncello Ricotta Cookies »
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

SUBSCRIBE FOR RECIPES!

Yes please.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beka

    May 16, 2022 at 7:33 am

    Do you think I could use limoncello instead of the almond extract?

    Reply
    • Angela Allison

      May 16, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      Sure! But if you want lemon flavor, I’d use fresh lemon juice and zest instead.

      Reply
  2. Lima Ekram

    March 16, 2021 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    Loved the recipe – the cookies were delicious!

    Reply
  3. Shalini

    March 16, 2021 at 10:46 am

    5 stars
    Wow! They look so yum! Melt-in-the-mouth kinda yum! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
  4. Cate

    March 16, 2021 at 10:39 am

    These cookies sound absolutely delicious! Love that they have both almond and vanilla extract, sound so tasty!

    Reply
  5. Mirlene

    March 16, 2021 at 10:18 am

    5 stars
    These cookies look so delicious and tasty. I cannot wait to make them for my children.

    Reply
  6. Julia

    March 16, 2021 at 10:05 am

    5 stars
    Wow we loved these buttery cookies so much and good quantity for one recipe!

    Reply
  7. Katrinka

    December 21, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    Love these! Not as dense as shortbread but not as sweet as most sugar cookies. My new favorite cookies.

    Reply
    • angelakallison

      December 22, 2020 at 6:41 am

      I’m so happy you love them! They are definitely one of my favorite cookies. Happy holidays!

      Reply
  8. Lesley DiBello

    December 08, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    I buy Kourambiedes every year from the local Greek Orthodox Church. Rather than almond extract they have finely ground almonds in them. They are also rolled in tons of powdered sugar. They are similar to Russia tea cakes/Mexican wedding cookies.

    Reply
    • angelakallison

      December 08, 2019 at 7:04 pm

      Hi Lesley. Thanks for the comment. Yes, I have also had these cookies made with ground almonds. Both ways are delicious! I’ve had Italian Wedding Cookies made a similar way as well. Hope you like the recipe!

      Reply
  9. Tawnie K Kroll

    December 07, 2019 at 8:48 am

    5 stars
    They look so fluffy and delicious!! Cannot wait to try these!

    Reply
  10. Heidy L. McCallum

    December 07, 2019 at 8:13 am

    5 stars
    I love Greek Holiday treats and your recipe looks perfect for us to make this weekend!

    Reply
  11. Emese

    December 07, 2019 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    It is such a relief to find this vanilla cookie recipe after seeing so many chocolate chip cookies everywhere. Thanks for the recipe, we will definitely be making these for Christmas

    Reply
  12. Annie @ Annie's Noms

    December 07, 2019 at 6:58 am

    5 stars
    These look perfect! They look like they just melt in your mouth, I’ve never tried Greek butter cookies before, but I need to!

    Reply
  13. Julia

    December 07, 2019 at 6:44 am

    5 stars
    These butter cookies look so delicious! I love shortbread cookies so putting this on my To Do list to try this holiday season!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Angela Allison from This Delicious House.

Hi there, I'm Angela!

I’m a wife, mother of three, and lover of simple and delicious make-ahead food!

Read more about me →

Show Stopping Sides

Side dishes are always necessary! Here are some fan favorites.

  • Spinach Pasta Salad
  • Ham Pasta Salad
  • Bruschetta Salad (Panzanella)
  • Lemon Orzo Salad

Cocktail Anyone?

In my opinion, cocktails need to be simple to make and totally delicious!

  • Grapefruit Paloma
  • Espresso Martini with Kahlua
  • Tropical White Wine Spritzer
  • Cranberry Moscow Mules Recipe

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Posts on this site may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you

Copyright © 2023 This Delicious House

8692 shares