Greek cuisine · Desserts & Sweets

Sweet Cretan Half-Moon Pastries

Cretan half-moon pastries made from olive oil dough, filled with walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon, rolled in powdered sugar.

Ingredients · for 8 servings

• 500 g flour
• 150 ml olive oil
• 100 ml orange juice
• 80 g sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 200 g walnuts
• 100 g raisins
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 orange (zest)
• 150 g powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

1. Soak the raisins in warm water for 15 min., squeeze out well, and mix with the finely chopped walnuts, cinnamon, honey, and grated orange zest into a sticky filling.
2. Mix the olive oil, orange juice, and sugar, then gradually work in the flour and baking powder until a soft, supple dough forms that no longer sticks to your hands.
3. Let the dough rest covered for 20 min. and preheat the oven to 180°C top/bottom heat; line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Roll out the dough in batches 3 mm thin and cut out circles about 9 cm across with a glass; place 1 tsp of filling in the center of each.
5. Fold the circles into half-moons, press the edges firmly, and crimp with a fork or your fingers into a braided pattern so the filling doesn't leak out during baking.
6. Bake the pastries for 22–25 min. until pale gold and dry, let cool for 10 min., and while still lukewarm roll thickly in powdered sugar.