Holiday Cookies #3: Melomakarona – Greek Honey Spice cookies

I just noticed that I never finished my holiday cookies recipes! I have one more recipe left – melomakarona. I realize that the holidays are long gone, sadly; however, it’s never too late to share one more recipe with you. This is a more complicated recipe than the other ‘simple cookies,’ but I still love it – maybe even the most out of the three. Melomakarona, also known as Finikia, are spice cookies dipped in syrup and served with crumbled walnuts on top. They are to die for! Though these are commonly made during the holiday season, I have eaten them at many other times of the year. So you can still try this now!

What you will need:

 2 sticks butter

1 cup oil

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. cloves

1 cup fresh orange juice

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 jigger brandy

6 ½ to 7 cups flour

For the syrup:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar

½ lemon

½ cup honey

1 tsp. cinnamon 

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat the oil,sugar, and butter. Slowly add the rest of the ingredients; add flour, one cup at a time, until the dough is soft and does not stick to hands. 

 

Shape the dough into ovals and bake on greased cookie sheets for 15 to 25 minutes (until golden). 

 (^^^ I poke holes in the cookies with a fork, so that when we dip them in the syrup, they can absorb it better - I would suggest doing this)

Take the cookies out and let them cool on a cookie tray. Once they are completely cool, begin to make the syrup (you can also make the syrup ahead of time and bring it to a boil after you make the cookies). First, make a simple syrup with the water, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon; boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the honey. Now, dip the cookies in the hot syrup for a few seconds (the longer you leave them in, the sweeter and softer they get). 

 

After absorbing the syrup, sprinkle crushed walnuts over top. 

Done! Hope you enjoy these yummy sticky cookies! Try them out and tell me what you think.