Melomacarona: A sweet treat with a bitter past

What is melomacarona?

I find it extremely hard to resist melomacarona (μελομακάρονα). If you’ve tried this Greek Christmas dessert, you’ll agree! It is one of the most popular treats of the season. You can find it in nearly every household. Melomacarona are basically Greek cookies dipped in honey syrup. Today, let’s explore the history behind these beloved Greek holiday sweets.

The history of this Greek Christmas Dessert

The word μελομακάρονα (melomacarona) comes from the Greek words for honey (meli) and macaria (μακαρία). Macaria were small cakes eaten during funerals in ancient and medieval Greece. Over time, bakers changed the recipe. They dipped the cakes in honey, and this led to the modern μελομακάρονα.

How do Greeks make melomacarona?

The recipe has evolved through the centuries. It usually includes flour or semolina, sugar, orange zest or fresh juice, cognac (or a similar spirit), cinnamon, ground cloves, and olive oil. Many cooks add walnuts to the mixture. They shape the dough into small, oblong cookies and bake them until golden brown. After baking, they soak the cookies in cool syrup made of honey and sugar dissolved in water. Finally, they sprinkle ground and chopped walnuts on top.

Make your own melomacarona

Would you like to make this Greek Christmas dessert yourself? Here’s a melomacarona recipe by Akis Petretzikis (in English). You can also try another recipe by Argyro (in English).

Season’s Greetings from all of us at the Greek Learning Hub!