KOULOURAKIA - GREEK EASTER COOKIES

KOULOURAKIA - GREEK EASTER COOKIES
INGREDIENTS: SERVES 12
●  1˝ cups butter
●  6 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
●  2 cups sugar
●  6 Teaspoon(s) baking powder
●  1 Teaspoon(s) baking soda
●  juice of ˝ lemon
●  2 tsp vanilla extract
●  2 pounds all-purpose flour
●  ˝ cup toasted sesame seeds or 1 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS: 

1.  Beat butter and sugar. 

2.  Add eggs, one at a time.  Beat until sugar has dissolved and batter is smooth.
  
3.  Stir baking powder and baking soda into 2 cups flour and add to batter.  

4.  Add the remaining ingredients  except the sesame seeds or powdered sugar,
     but do not add all the remaining flour at once.  You may noted it all.

5.  When you get a soft, elastic dough that doesn't stick to your fingers, stop adding
     flour.  You may not use all the flour.  

6.  Let the dough rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.  

✚  Preheat oven to 350℉.  

7.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Take heaping tablespoon full of dough,
     roll in sesame seeds (if desired), and form into S or O shapes or braid if you wish.  

8.  Place cookies onto prepared baking sheet.  Beat 1egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water
     and brush over cookies.  Bake until golden brown.

9.  Remove from oven and, if you did not use the sesame seeds, roll cookies in
     powdered sugar while still warm.