Greek Easter Cookies (Kourabiedes)

1 cup butter
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon extract -- vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon extract -- brandy, optional
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cloves -- ground

TOPPING
sugar -- powdered

Preheat oven to 350 F (moderate). Mix first five ingredients together thoroughly. Blend flour, baking powder, and cloves; stir into butter mixture and mix well. Shape dough into small balls about 3/4" in diameter, or in cylindrical shapes formed in 2"-long half moons. Bake on lightly greased baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are set but not browned. Let stand 2 minutes before removing from baking sheet.

When cool, dust with powdered sugar.

For a more authentic Greek cookie, omit ground cloves and place a whole clove in center of each cookie before baking.

If you use self-rising flour, omit baking powder.