Melomakarona Cookies

Up your dessert game with this recipe for melomakarona, faintly orange-scented Greek spice cookies dipped in honey syrup and spiced walnuts.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 133 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup honey
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 cup water
• 1 pound unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon, or to taste
• 1 pinch ground cloves, or to taste
• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• ½ cup finely crushed walnuts, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 3

Whisk flour, cinnamon, baking powder, cloves, baking soda, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Beat butter in a separate bowl until light and fluffy; add sugar and mix well. Beat egg yolks and orange juice together in another bowl. Stir egg mixture into the butter mixture; add flour mixture slowly, mixing after each addition. Add honey. Mix until a soft dough forms.

Step 4

Chill dough until firm enough to work with, about 30 minutes. Shape into small ovals and place a few inches apart on baking sheet sheets. Flatten slightly; cookies will spread.

Step 5

Meanwhile, heat honey, water, and sugar together in a saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Let syrup cool. Mix walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves together in a bowl to make the topping.

Step 6

Dip cookies into the cooled syrup for 10 to 15 seconds per side. Sprinkle walnut topping over syrup and let dry completely. Store in muffin cups or between layers of parchment paper.