Koulourakia

Koulourakia is a Greek pastry that is traditionally prepared during the Easter festivities and consumed after the Holy Saturday. It is based on vanilla, butter, and sugar, and are traditionally braided, although they may be shaped into numerous other forms. Typically, koulourakia pastry is served with coffee or tea as a dessert or a snack. Sometimes, before baking, sesame seeds are coarsely sprinkled over the pastries, while a clove is placed in the middle in order to add more flavor. Interestingly, the Minoans sometimes shape the pastry into snakes, since they believe that those animals have healing powers.