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Traditional Greek Honey Cookies (Melomakarona)

Traditional Greek Honey Cookies (Melomakarona)

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Indulge in the delightful experience of making Traditional Greek Honey Cookies, known as Melomakarona. These soft, syrup-soaked treats are infused with aromatic spices and citrusy orange zest, making them a perfect addition to your dessert table. Whether you’re celebrating the holiday season or enjoying a sweet snack any time of year, these cookies are sure to impress your family and friends. The use of wholesome ingredients like olive oil and natural sweeteners adds a thoughtful twist to this traditional recipe. With their irresistible crumbly texture and rich flavors, Melomakarona are not just desserts; they’re a cherished culinary tradition that brings warmth and joy to every occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 125 ml fresh orange juice
  • 250 grams / 8.8 oz olive oil
  • 50 grams / 1.7 oz honey
  • 80 ml water
  • 100 grams (½ cup) sugar
  • 1 + ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground clove
  • â…“ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon vanillin powder or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 orange, zested
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 125 grams (â…” cup + 1 tbsp) fine semolina
  • 550 grams (4 + â…” cup) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 400 grams (2 cups) sugar for syrup
  • 100 grams / 3.5 oz honey for syrup
  • 325 ml (1â…“ cup + 1 tablespoon) water for syrup
  • 1 stick of cinnamon for syrup
  • 45 dried cloves for syrup
  • 1 orange peel for syrup
  • honey for garnish
  • ground walnuts for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil, honey, and water until well combined.
  3. Add sugar, spices, zested orange, baking soda, semolina, flour, and baking powder. Mix until a dough forms.
  4. Shape small portions into oval cookies and place them on a lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown.
  6. Meanwhile, prepare syrup by boiling sugar, honey, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peel for 10 minutes.
  7. Dip warm cookies into the syrup for about one minute each before removing to cool.
  8. Garnish with ground walnuts while still warm.

Nutrition