Kalitsounia (Sweet Cheese Pastries)

Ingredients list for Kalitsounia (Sweet Cheese Pastries)

• for greasing Butter
• for dusting Refined flour (maida)
• 1 Egg beaten
• to sprinkle Cinnamon powder
• DOUGH
• 1½ cups Refined flour (maida)
• ½ teaspoon Baking powder
• ¼ cup Sugar
• ¼ cup Olive oil
• ¼ cup Yogurt
• 1 Egg beaten
• 2 tablespoons Brandy
• FILLING
• 1 cup Philadelphia cheese
• ½ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
• 2 tablespoons Sugar
• 1 Egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon Orange zest
• 2 tablespoons Refined flour (maida)

Method

1. To make the dough, sift together flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add sugar, olive oil, yogurt and egg and mix to a stiff dough. Add brandy gradually and knead into a smooth and soft dough. Set aside for 20-30 minutes.
2. To make the filling, mix together cheese, cinnamon powder, sugar, egg yolk, orange zest and flour in a bowl.
3. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a baking tray with some butter.
4. Dust worktop with some flour, place the dough on it and roll out into a thickness of about ⅛ inch. Using a 4 inch round cookie cutter, cut out discs from it and place a spoonful of filling on the centre.
5. Dampen your fingers with some water, raise the rims up around the filling and pinch the edges to pull the dough around the cheese, leaving the center open.
6. Place these pastries on the greased tray and brush lightly with beaten egg. Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or till lightly browned.
7. Remove from heat, sprinkle cinnamon powder on top and serve.