Greek Honey-Dipped Walnut Spice Cookies (Melomakarona)

Name: Greek Honey-Dipped Walnut Spice Cookies (Melomakarona)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 40 cookies
Ingredients: 1 cup honey; 1 cup sugar; 3 ⁄ 4 cup finely chopped walnuts; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. ground cloves; 4 cups flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. baking soda; 3 ⁄ 4 cup canola oil; 1 ⁄ 2 cup sugar; 6 tbsp. fresh orange juice, plus 2 tsp. zest; 1 ⁄ 4 cup shortening; 2 tbsp. brandy

Serves
makes 40 cookies

Soaked in honey syrup and garnished with a spiced walnut mixture, these traditional Greek cookies are often served around the holidays.

Ingredients

For the Honey Syrup and Walnut Garnish

1 cup honey
1 cup sugar
³⁄₄ cup finely chopped walnuts
¹⁄₂ tsp. ground cinnamon
¹⁄₄ tsp. ground cloves

For the Cookies

4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
¹⁄₂ tsp. baking soda
³⁄₄ cup canola oil
¹⁄₂ cup sugar
6 tbsp. fresh orange juice, plus 2 tsp. zest
¹⁄₄ cup shortening
2 tbsp. brandy

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Instructions

Step 1

Make the syrup: Combine honey, sugar, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat; boil. Remove from heat and cool.

Step 2

Make the garnish: In a medium bowl, combine walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.

Step 3

Make the cookies: Heat oven to 350°. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. Combine oil, shortening, sugar, orange juice and zest, and brandy in the bowl of a food processor and mix until smooth. Slowly add dry ingredients until a smooth dough forms, taking care not to over work dough. Transfer dough to a work surface and roll out the dough into a 1⁄3"-thick sheet. Using a 3" round cutter, cut dough into 40 cookies. Transfer cookies to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Using the prongs of a fork, press down on the balls to flatten and make grooves on the top of the cookie. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Pour the syrup over the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven. Turn the cookies over and let cool.