These delicious, chewy Honey Cookies are an old fashioned, family favorite recipe that comes straight from my mom's cookbook!
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Do you have any holiday recipes that transport you right back to your childhood?
These Honey Cookies are one of mine!
My mom made these honey sugar cookies every Christmas without fail. They were her favorite, and of course, the rest of my family loved them, too.
I hadn't made my mom's Honey Cookie recipe in ages. My sister makes them every Christmas though, so I decided that I had to make them this year, too.
The recipe was kind of vague, as many older recipes are (3 to 4 cups flour?). After consulting my sister though, I made some adjustments and figured it out. And I'm so glad I did, because the fragrant honey-scented cookies immediately reminded me of how much I enjoyed making this holiday treat with my mom when I was a kid.
These Honey Cookies were a favorite in my family, but I don't remember my mom ever making those Pecan Honeymoon Squares ... ha!
Honey Cookies
If you've never tried a recipe for Honey Cookies before, you are in for a tasty surprise.
These yummy cookies are crisp around the edges, yet chewy in the middle. The wonderful honey scent of these cookies will draw your whole family to the kitchen as they're baking, and they'll probably steal one or two while they're there!
This is a truly unique Christmas cookie recipe that you are sure to cherish just as much as I do. I can't wait for you to try these recipe honey almond cookies!
How to Make Honey Cookies
Okay, let's talk about these cookies. I'm just going to say it ... this is the BEST Honey Cookie recipe!
These cookies are so chewy and delicious, and with their colorful sprinkles, they make one festive Christmas cookie. Don't let that stop you from making them anytime of year though.
Of course, the honey is the star of these cookies. Feel free to use whatever kind of honey you prefer, just make sure it's good quality.
This recipe makes a lot of cookies, so I like to use my stand mixer. It makes the process quick and easy.
You'll start by creaming together the butter and sugar. Keep mixing until it's light and fluffy.
Next, you'll alternate adding the dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt) with the honey and a baking soda/water mixture. Mixing everything together this way helps ensure all the ingredients are well incorporated. The last step is to add chopped almonds.
These Honey Cookies have no eggs ... don't worry, you're not missing an ingredient!
The dough for these cookies with honey is fairly soft. To help the cookies keep their shape while baking, you'll shape the dough into logs, then freeze them.
Once the dough is firm enough to handle, remove it from the freezer and roll it in colored sugar. I like using Wilton Sparkling Sugar, because the crystals are larger and more brilliant than regular decorating sugar.
After slicing the cookies (aim for about ⅜-inch thick), you'll bake them just until they're lightly browned on the bottom (lift one of the cookies to check). You don't want to over bake these cookies, because with all the sugar and honey, they will get hard.
This Honey Cookies recipe makes a lot ... perfect for sharing with friends and family during the holidays!
Looking for More Cookie Recipes?
If you loved these cookies made with honey, then make sure to check out my other favorite Christmas cookies:
- Nona's Pecan Fingers
- Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cupcakes (Black Bottoms)
- Poppy Seed Kiss Cookies
- Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
- Ginger Spice Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Cookies
- Curry Shortbread Cookies
Looking for even more Christmas cookie recipes? Then you’re in luck, because I’m joining some of my fave food bloggers for the Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange, hosted by Erin at The Speckled Palate! This awesome virtual cookbook with hundreds of delicious cookie recipes from some of my fave food bloggers.
I'm especially excited about this exchange, because we're helping to raise money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a nonprofit that is committed to raising funds for research to develop new, improved, and less toxic treatments for pediatric cancer. If you’d like to join me supporting this wonderful organization, please consider making a donation through our fundraising page. It's an easy way to give back this holiday season!
Honey Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup honey
- ¼ cup chopped almonds
- sugar spinkles
Instructions
- Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Combine baking soda with 2 tablespoons hot water.
- Blend ½ the flour mixture into the butter; then, mix in ½ the honey and ½ of the baking soda mixture. Add remaining flour, then honey and baking soda mixture. Mix well after each addition, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
- Mix in almonds, stopping to scrape down sides a couple times, until thoroughly blended in.
- Divide dough into quarters. Working on a piece of parchment paper or lightly floured surface, shape ¼ of the dough into a log about 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Place log on parchment paper-lined baking sheet, then repeat process with remaining dough. (Feel free to work with smaller pieces of dough if its easier.)
- Freeze dough logs for about 45 minutes (or refrigerate for at least 2 hours) or until the logs are firm enough to handle and slice easily.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll chilled dough in sugar sprinkles, then slice about ⅜-inch thick using a sharp knife. (Keep unused dough in freezer until you are ready to work with it.)
- Place sliced cookies on parchment lined baking sheet at least 1-inch apart, then bake for about 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned on bottom. Do not overcook.
- Let cookies cool for a few minutes on baking pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cookies in an airtight container until ready to eat. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie that's been passed down in your family?
P.S. Get more Christmas cookie recipes, plus check out all my holiday crafts, decor ideas, and recipes here!
Oh, my! These sound so good.
They are such a fave in my family, Paula, and very unique!