Name: Kalitsounia (Sweet Cheese Pastries)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: ½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil; ½ Cup Sugar; 2 Eggs, Beaten; 1 tsp Baking Powder; 23 cups Flour Filling; 2 lbs Mizithra Cheese (Ricotta Can Do As Well); 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon; 2 tbsp Sugar; 1 Egg Yolk; 2 tbsp Flour; Lemon Leaves

AuthorMariaCategoryCake & Desserts

These sweet cheese pastries are served throughout Crete. They are made with sweet Mizithra cheese, which is similar to Ricotta – Ricotta works as a suitable substitute.

Prep Time30 minsCook Time20 minsTotal Time50 mins

Ingredients for the dough

½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½ Cup Sugar

2 Eggs, Beaten

1 tsp Baking Powder

23 cups Flour Filling

For the filling

2 lbs Mizithra Cheese (Ricotta Can Do As Well)

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

2 tbsp Sugar

1 Egg Yolk

2 tbsp Flour

Lemon Leaves

Cooking Instructions

For the dough, whisk together the sugar, baking powder and flour.

Add the Olive Oil, gently folding with a spoon.

Stir in the eggs and mix until the dough stiffens. Knead the dough until it softens.

Now for the filling, mix the cheese, cinnamon, sugar, egg yolk and flour in a separate bowl until well blended.

Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

On a flat surface, sprinkle some flour and roll the dough mixture.

Cut circles approx. 10cm in diameter.

Place a spoon of the cheese mixture in the centre of the cut dough and raise the rim of the dough around the cheese. Make sure the cheese shows in the centre.

Brush with the lightly beaten egg and sprinkle with cinnamon powder.

Bake for 20 minutes until lightly brown in colour. After removing, place lemon leaves on top,. So the pastry cools whilst absorbing the flavour from the leaf. Remove the leaf before eating!

Ingredients