Melomakarona recipe easy to make

Melomakarona are traditional Greek Christmas cookies made with semolina and flour, soaked in honey syrup, and often topped with chopped walnuts. Here's a recipe to make these delicious treats:

Ingredients:
For the Cookies:
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup brandy (optional)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Zest of 1 orange
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup fine semolina
For the Syrup:
1 cup honey
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 whole cloves
1 strip of orange peel (optional)
For the Topping:
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
Make the Cookies:
Prepare the Dough:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, vegetable oil, orange juice, brandy (if using), sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, semolina, and baking soda.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as the dough should remain tender.
Shape the Cookies:

Take a small amount of dough (about 1 tablespoon) and shape it into an oval or round shape.
Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Use a fork to create a slight indent on the top of each cookie, which will help the syrup soak in later.
Bake:

Bake the cookies for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
Make the Syrup:
Prepare the Syrup:

In a saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peel.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peel.
Soak the Cookies:

While the syrup is still warm, dip each cookie into the syrup for about 15-20 seconds, ensuring they are well soaked.
Place the soaked cookies on a serving platter.
Add the Topping:
Top with Walnuts:

Mix the chopped walnuts with the ground cinnamon.
Sprinkle the walnut mixture over the soaked cookies while they are still sticky from the syrup.
Serve:

Let the Melomakarona sit for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld. Serve and enjoy these traditional Greek holiday cookies!