Description
These Melomakarona are traditional Greek honey cookies infused with orange zest, cinnamon, and cloves, topped with a honey syrup and walnut-cinnamon mixture. Perfect for the holiday season or any time you crave a sweet, spiced treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brandy (or additional orange juice)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Honey Syrup:
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip of orange peel
Topping:
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, vegetable oil, orange juice, brandy, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Shape and bake: Shape dough into oval cookies, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 20–25 minutes.
- Make syrup: Simmer honey, sugar, water, cinnamon stick, and orange peel to make syrup.
- Dip and top: Dip baked cookies in syrup, sprinkle with walnut-cinnamon topping, and let cool before serving.
Notes
- Melomakarona taste better the next day as flavors deepen.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
