Snack · 60 min · greek

Melomakarona (Honey Spice Cookies)

All-purpose flour does the heavy lifting here, with olive oil rounding it out. A Greek snack that takes 60 minutes, start to finish.

Ingredients

• 4 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 cup Olive oil
• 1 cup Orange juice
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Honey
• 1 cup Water
• 2 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Ground cloves
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• 2 tbsp Brandy
• 1 cup Toasted walnuts
• 1 tbsp Orange zest

Steps

1. Whisk the olive oil, orange juice, sugar, brandy, zest, and spices until the sugar dissolves — the oil and juice must fully emulsify or the cookies turn out streaky.
2. Fold in the flour and baking soda gently until just combined. The dough should be soft and oily; overmixing develops gluten and makes them hard.
3. Shape into 12 ovals and press the traditional diamond pattern with a fork — the grooves catch the syrup later.
4. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes until firm and lightly golden; they should feel set but not hard.
5. Simmer the honey, water, and remaining sugar 5 minutes into a thin syrup and cool slightly. Dunk the hot cookies in the warm syrup for 30 seconds per side — hot cookie, warm syrup, that is the rule — then roll in the chopped walnuts and cinnamon.

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