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Honey cookies are a delightful treat loved by many for their sweet, comforting flavor and soft, chewy texture. What makes them so delicious is the combination of honey’s natural sweetness, warm spices, and the satisfyingly rich aroma that fills your kitchen while baking. 

Making these golden brown honey cookies is a delightful experience that combines the unique, sweet flavor of honey with the joy of baking. These cookies can be a meaningful connection to cultural traditions, such as serving them during the Jewish New Year to symbolize hopes for a sweet new year. Baking your own honey cookies allows you to control the ingredients, customize shapes and decorations, and share homemade goodness with loved ones. 

This simple recipe makes the perfect honey cookies, which you can wrap in cellophane or put in a small cookie tin for hostess gifts. 

This great recipe makes a chewy cookie that is so delightful. You only need a few simple ingredients to bake the most perfect cookies. The flavor of the honey will be stronger or lighter depending on which type of honey you use.

Ready to make soft honey cookies? Keep reading or jump to the recipe card.

Can Honey Cookies Be Served During The Jewish New Year?

Yes! Honey cookies are a popular treat served during the Jewish New Year, known as Rosh Hashanah. This holiday, which typically falls in September or early October, marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year and is a time of reflection, prayer, and festive meals with family and friends.

Honey is a significant symbol during Rosh Hashanah as it represents wishes for a sweet and fruitful year ahead. As a result, honey-based foods, including honey cookies, are commonly featured on the holiday table. These cookies are often shaped like honey pots, beehives, or other symbolic designs, and they are enjoyed as a sweet and meaningful way to usher in the new year.

In addition to honey cookies, other traditional Rosh Hashanah foods that incorporate honey include challah bread dipped in honey and sliced apples dipped in honey. You can also make honey cake. The sweetness of honey emphasizes the hope for a good and sweet year ahead.

So, if you’re celebrating Rosh Hashanah or simply want to enjoy some delicious honey cookies with a meaningful twist, making or serving them during this holiday is a wonderful tradition to embrace.

Does This Cookie Recipe Have Dairy?

This is a vegetarian recipe that does not use butter or milk, but it does require an egg. Also, since it uses real honey, this recipe is not vegan.

Top Tips To Make Honey Cookies

Here are some tips to make the most delicious honey cookies:

1. Choose Quality Ingredients:
   • Start with high-quality honey, preferably raw or organic, as it will impart a more robust flavor to your cookies.
   • Use fresh, unexpired baking soda and spices for the best taste.
2. Balance Sweetness:
   • Honey is naturally sweet, so reduce the amount of granulated sugar in your recipe to avoid overly sugary cookies. This also lets the honey flavor shine.
3. Spice it Up:
   • Add a dash of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves to enhance the warmth and depth of flavor in your cookies. These spices complement honey beautifully.
4. Texture Matters:
   • For soft, chewy cookies, use brown sugar or a combination of brown and white sugar. Brown and turbinado sugar adds moisture, making the cookies tender.
5. Temperature Control:
   • Keep your dough and baking sheets cool for best results
6. Don’t Overmix:
   • Mix your ingredients until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
7. Bake Carefully:
   • Preheat your oven to the specified temperature
   • Place cookies on parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and promote even browning.
   • Bake your cookies until they are just set but still have slightly soft center. They will continue to cook a bit after you remove them from the oven, ensuring a chewy texture.
8. Experiment with Mix-Ins:
   • Customize your honey cookies by adding ingredients like chopped nuts, dried fruits, or chocolate chips for added flavor and texture.
9. Storage:
   • Store your honey cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and prevent them from becoming too dry.
   • You may also store by covering in plastic wrap.

You can also try different types of good quality honey. I like to use orange blossom honey and when I want an extra hint of spice, clover honey.

Remember that baking is both a science and an art, so don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust the recipe to your taste. Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea or as a sweet snack, honey cookies are sure to satisfy your cravings with their delightful blend of honeyed goodness.

What Equipment Do I Need To Make Honey Cookies?

You don’t need fancy equipment to bake these delicious cookies. You may use an electric mixer to make this easy treat, but it’s not really necessary. 

Here is a list of what you will need with links, aside from the ingredients, from my Amazon affiliate program, which allows me to earn a small commission to help support my blog at no extra cost to you:

• Cookie sheet
• Parchment paper
• Bowl
• Large mixing bowl
• Small ice cream scoop

Honey Cookies Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 10 minutes 
Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tsp soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Coating ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper
• Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Add the oil and sugar in a large mixing bowl
• Slowly add in the honey, egg, and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add the flour, soda, and cinnamon to the wet ingredients. Mix until well blended.
• Using the ice cream scoop, form 1 inch dough balls.
• Roll the cookie dough balls in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
• Take out of the oven and allow the cookies to cool slightly. on the cookie sheet.
• Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to completely cool.

Did you like this honey cookie recipe? Let me know and tag me on Instagram so I can see your version of this recipe!

More delicious recipes to try

• How to make my family’s favorite fluffy challah
• VIDEO: How to make round challah for Rosh Hashanah
• Apple Challah French Toast Casserole
• Foolproof brown butter chocolate chip cookies
• Easy strawberry Hamantaschen recipe
• How to make the best alfajores or dulce de leche cookies

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