These delightful Greek cinnamon cookies with red wine offer a unique twist on traditional holiday baking.
The aromatic blend of warm cinnamon and rich red wine creates an irresistible Mediterranean treat that’s completely vegan-friendly.
Ready in just 40 minutes, this recipe yields an abundant batch of 60-70 cookies – perfect for sharing at gatherings or gifting during festive seasons.
The combination of classic flavors with an unexpected hint of wine elevates these simple cookies into something truly special.
Ingredients for Greek Cinnamon Wine Cookies
- Olive Oil: 450ml, ensures perfect moisture and texture
- Red Wine: 180ml, adds rich depth and color
- Orange Juice: 90ml, fresh-squeezed for best results
- Sugar: 90ml, provides just the right sweetness
- Cinnamon: 1 tablespoon, main aromatic spice
- Ground Clove: 1½ teaspoons, adds warm undertones
- Orange Zest: from 1½ oranges, for citrus brightness
- Baking Powder: 1 tablespoon, ensures proper rise
- Baking Soda: ½ teaspoon, helps with texture
- Flour: 1kg, sifted for smoothness
- Brown Sugar: 2 tablespoons for topping (optional)
- Sesame Seeds: 80g roasted, adds nutty crunch
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Combine sugar and olive oil in a large bowl, then blend orange juice with baking soda until dissolved
- Add Flavors: Pour in wine, cinnamon, clove, orange zest, and sesame seeds. Mix thoroughly
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: Sieve flour with baking powder
- Form Dough: Add half the flour mixture, knead, then gradually add remaining flour until smooth but not sticky
- Prepare Baking: Heat oven to 170°C and line baking trays with parchment
- Shape and Bake: Form cookies into desired shapes, sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake 25-30 minutes until golden
Storage Tips
These lovely Greek cinnamon cookies stay fresh and tasty for up to 2 weeks! Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature.
The olive oil in the recipe helps them maintain their softness. If you want to keep them extra fresh, pop a piece of bread in the container – it helps keep the cookies soft and fragrant. Just remember to change the bread every few days.
Helpful Baking Tips
Don’t worry if your dough feels a bit different than expected – the amount of flour you’ll need can change based on many things, like how humid it is that day.
Start with less flour and add more slowly until your dough feels right. When you press it gently with your finger, it should bounce back without sticking.
The roasted sesame seeds add such a nice nutty flavor – but if you bought raw ones, just toast them in a dry pan for 3-4 minutes until golden before using them.
Serving Suggestions
These cookies are perfect with a cup of Greek coffee or tea! They’re also wonderful with a small glass of sweet dessert wine – try the same wine you used in the recipe.
In Greece, we love serving these at gatherings with family and friends, especially during holidays.
They make a cozy afternoon snack too. The orange and cinnamon flavors are so warming and comforting!
Recipe Variations
Try adding different spices to make these cookies your own! A pinch of nutmeg works beautifully with the cinnamon, or you could add some vanilla extract for extra warmth.
Some bakers like to roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm instead of using brown sugar on top.
You can also shape them into crescents or circles – both are traditional Greek cookie shapes.
Cinnamon Cookies with Red Wine
Equipment
- Large bowl
- baking trays
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 450 ml olive oil (1 and 5/6 cups)
- 180 ml red wine (3/4 of a cup)
- 90 ml orange juice (1/3 of a cup)
- 90 ml sugar (1/3 of a cup)
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp ground clove flat
- 1 1/2 orange zest
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 kg soft flour sifted (35 ounces)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar optional
- 80 gr sesame seeds roasted (1/3 of a cup)
Instructions
- To prepare these flavourful cinnamon cookies, add in a large bowl the sugar and olive oil and whisk. In a cup add the orange juice and baking soda and blend, until dissolved; pour in the bowl and add the wine, the cinnamon, the clove, the orange zest and the sesame seeds. Whisk well, until the ingredients combine.
- Sieve the flour with the baking powder; add 1/2 the flour to the mixture and start kneading the dough. Slowly add the rest of the flour and knead the dough, until smooth and not sticky; don’t overwork the dough. Depending on the flour, you may need to use a little bit less or more flour than the recipe calls for. The dough should be soft, but not sticky.
- Preheat the oven to 170C and line two large baking trays with parchment paper. Shape the cinnamon cookies with your hands, giving them any shape you like, sprinkle with brown sugar and bake for 25-30 minutes, until nicely coloured. Enjoy!