Honey Cookies (Medovniky) in fun fall colors!

It’s almost too late for these cookies.  Around here the leaves are turning brown and falling fast!  The good news is that these incredibly flavorful cookies can be cut into any shape for any season!

These are a traditional Slovak cookie, generally made around Christmas.  When I traveled to Slovakia I fell in love with a traditional cake called Medovnik (if you want to see my attempt at it, click here).  When I came across this recipe on the Slovak Cooking blog, I knew I had to try them.

They are wonderful.  A little like honey graham crackers, a little like gingerbread cookies, a little like spice cake… an incredibly unique cookie that is SO easy to roll and cut out (I can’t stand sticky, messy cut-out cookie dough!)  They filled my house with wonderful fall scents when I baked them and I will definitely be making them again.  Here’s the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 ¼ cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 ¼ sticks (5 oz.) of unsalted butter
• 3 ½ tablespoons of honey
• ½ cup of water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon
• ½ tablespoon ginger
• ½ tablespoon cloves

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat the sugar, water and honey in a sauce pan until the sugar dissolves, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the butter, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
• Once the butter has melted, let the mixture cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda.
• Pour the sugar-spice mixture over it and mix well.
• Knead lightly to form a smooth dough.
• Wrap it in cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour. (the recipe called for refrigeration, but my dough was just perfect to roll out immediately.)
• Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
• Roll dough out on a board dusted with flour.
• Cut cookies in whatever shapes you want and place on a cookie sheet.
• Bake for 5-8 minutes (they bake fast, so keep an eye on them).
• Cool and frost with your favorite glaze or frosting (I used Royal Icing, click here for the recipe and for directions on how to use it)

My thoughts:  I really do love these cookies.  The recipe was so different than any other cookie recipe I’ve made before.  I have a love/hate relationship with royal icing.  I hate the 12 years it takes to frost my cookies, but then I LOVE the finished result.  However you ice them, these cookies are a unique addition to your cookie recipe collection.  Enjoy!  ~r

Other recipes you might enjoy: (just click on the image to see the recipe)