Armenian Gata Cookies from Homemade Puff Pastry with Nuts
A national Armenian-style bake for tea or coffee! A wonderful recipe for traditional cookies made from kefir-kneaded puff pastry with fragrant nuts - its excellent flavor will pleasantly surprise you and appeal to many.
Updated : 12 January, 2026
Easy
More than 1 hour.
Ingredients
600 grams
Wheat flour
1 teaspoon
Vanilla sugar
250 grams
Margarine
2
Chicken eggs
2 tablespoon
Milk
250 milliliters
Kefir
0.25 teaspoon
Salt
0.5 teaspoon
Baking soda
150 grams
Walnut
250 grams
Sugar
70 grams
Butter
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients you need to make delicious sweet cookies with filling.
Step 2
For the dough, sift 500 g wheat flour (about 4 cups / 17.6 oz) into a large bowl, then add 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1 tsp vanilla sugar. Mix everything together.
Step 3
Cut 250 g softened margarine (about 8.8 oz; roughly 1 cup + 2 Tbsp) into small cubes and add it to the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Step 4
Mix well and rub everything together with your hands until crumbly.
Step 5
Crack 1 egg into a deep bowl and beat it, then pour in 250 ml room-temperature kefir (about 1 cup).
Step 6
Mix the kefir with the egg until smooth.
Step 7
Pour the liquid mixture into the large bowl with the quick “lazy” puff pastry dough base.
Step 8
Stir all the ingredients together in the bowl clockwise.
Step 9
Gather the dough in the bowl and knead it well by hand.
Step 10
Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a plastic bag, and refrigerate for 40 minutes.
Step 11
Blend 150 g of a mix of walnuts and shelled seeds (about 5.3 oz) and transfer to a deep bowl.
Step 12
Add 80 g wheat flour (about 2/3 cup / 2.8 oz) and 250 g sugar (about 1 1/4 cups / 8.8 oz) to the bowl.
Step 13
Mix all the dry ingredients together.
Step 14
Pour 70 g melted butter or ghee (about 2.5 oz / ~5 Tbsp) into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Step 15
Mix well - the cookie filling is ready.
Step 16
When the time is up, place the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Shape it and divide into 3 equal parts.
Step 17
One by one, knead/press each piece of dough on the floured surface.
Step 18
Roll each piece into a thin sheet, preferably rectangular, about 2-3 mm thick (about 1/12 in).
Step 19
Spread the needed amount of filling over each sheet in an even, thin layer, leaving about 4 cm (about 1.6 in) free at the edges.
Step 20
Roll the filled sheets into tight logs.
Step 21
Tuck in and seal the ends well, then lightly roll over the top of each log with a rolling pin without pressing too hard.
Step 22
Using a crinkle (decorative) knife, cut the logs into roughly equal triangular pieces and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 23
Brush the cookies very well on top and sides with egg yolk beaten with milk.
Step 24
Bake in an oven preheated to 200°C (392°F) for 10 minutes, then reduce to 180°C (356°F) and bake for another 15-20 minutes, depending on cookie size.
Step 25
When done, remove the baking sheet from the oven.
Step 26
Transfer the cookies to a plate and serve.
Step 27
Let’s cook together - simply, at home, making the tastiest dishes from accessible ingredients using our recipes! Enjoy your meal and a cozy tea time!
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