Koulourákia — Braided Greek Butter Cookies

Preheat your oven to 180°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until very light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes with an electric mixer.

Beat in 2 of the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the orange zest.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.

Take small pieces of dough and roll them into ropes about 15-20 cm long. Fold each rope in half and twist to form a braid. Pinch the ends to seal. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg yolk with the milk to create an egg wash. Brush the tops of the koulourákia with the egg wash.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let them cool on a wire rack before serving.