Honey Almond Cookies

Honey Almond Cookies
Honey Almond Cookies

Honey-Almond Cookie

Holiday cookies my mother made every year as I was growing up. They are soft and delicious.

Course cookies, gingerbread, honey
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Aging Time 14 days
Servings 8 dozen

Ingredients

Cookie Batter

  • 1 ½ cup honey
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoon clove
  • ¼ cup finely chopped blanched almonds – use your blender to get this super fine
  • 2 tablespoon candied citron (I omit these)
  • 2 tablespoon finely chopped preserved ginger (I just use powdered ginger)
  • 1 egg
  • 6 cups un-sifted all purpose flour

Frosting

  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 cup confection sugar
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • Food coloring

Instructions

Cookie Batter

  1. In large saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and mixture comes to boiling.

  2. Pour into large bowl; cool stirring occasionally, until mixture is lukewarm- about 45 minutes.

  3. With a wooden spoon, stir in cinnamon, soda, and cloves. Then stir in almonds, citron, ginger, and the egg until well blended. Gradually stir in flour until well combined dough will be very stiff.
  4. Refrigerate the dough overnight, covered, or as long as a week.
  5. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
  6. Remove one quarter of dough from refrigerator, and roll out on lightly floured surface to a 10-inch square about ¼ inch thick.
  7. With 2 or 3 inch cookie cutter, cut into desired shapes with spatula, place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet. Re-roll trimmings, and cut out.
  8. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned then remove cookies to wire rack; let cool completely.
  9. Repeat with remaining dough.

Frosting

  1. Make frosting: in medium bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat egg whites with sugar and vinegar until thick and soft peaks form when beater is slowly raised.
  2. Remove three fourths of icing, and divide into 3 small bowls. Tint icing in one bowl.
  3. Decorate cookies with pastry bags and writing tip.
  4. To store cookies: When frosting is dry, store in a plastic container with tight-fitting lid, or in a cookie jar. Place a piece of bread or apple in container. This allows the cookies to soften. Store at least 2 weeks, to mellow.

Recipe Notes

Frosted Christmas Cookies. This cookie recipe is a holiday tradition handed down from my Mom. (Shirley Cook) She was an amazing baker. It seemed we had plenty of flour, butter and sugar and she was very skilled at making pies, custards, homemade bread and cookies.
I carry this tradition on now, because this recipe is simply delicious. It requires about 14 days for the cookies to age. Yup! They are best after they are baked, decorated and softened up in a container. But really, who is going to wait for that? Right?
 
Honey Almond Cookies