Feta Cheese and Fig Cookies (Plus Other Surprising Feta Recipes)

Few people associate salty feta cheese with sweet cookies, but the combination is unexpectedly delicious. Like salted caramel or chocolate, this marriage of sweet and savory lights up several taste buds at once.

If you've ever tasted feta cheese with cranberry or figs, you may have a hint of what Feta and Fig Shortbread Cookies taste like. For the dried fruit, you can use figs, cranberries or raisins. All of them will work well with slightly different results.

Bake these cookies for a dinner party with your friends and you're bound to get them talking. These cookies are as simple to make as any shortbread, but the blend of contrasting flavors will be remembered long after the evening is over.

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup salted butter, softened
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup dried black mission figs or dried cranberries, chopped
4 tablespoons feta, crumbled

In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt, sugar, lemon zest and baking powder.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, olive oil and confectioners sugar. This can be done with a handheld mixer or a spoon. Gradually add dry ingredients and continue mixing until small lumps appear in the dough. Be mindful not to overmix.

Fold in the feta cheese and and the chopped figs or cranberries. You can even use a little of each.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead and pinch the dough until it just comes together. Roll into a log about 1-1/2 inches in diameter and cover in parchment paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or freeze 30 minutes, until hardened.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove from fridge and cut the log into 1/4 inch cookies, arranging on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake the shortbread until golden, about 18 minutes.

Makes 16 cookies.

More Exciting Feta Cheese Recipes

Mediterranean Macaroni and Cheese (with Feta)
Roasted Beet Pie with Honey, Feta Cheese and Mint
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Cauliflower Soup with Goat Cheese