Honey Cookies

I decided to make these Eastern European style cookies for the Jewish New Year as a gift to take to my friends’ houses, as a yummy alternative to Honey Cake – they were such a hit I ended up making four batches.

Makes around 36 cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons mixed spice
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1/4 cup honey
Water and white sugar for dipping cookies

Method:

-Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
-Line two large baking trays with baking paper (or use one at a time if you don’t have two).
-In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar and butter together –use electric beaters if you have them because it will cut the work down considerably. Add egg and honey. Beat well with wooden spoon to combined.
-Sift in the flour, baking soda and spices gradually, mixing to combine.
-Fill one small bowl with white sugar and another with water.
-Take a small ball of the dough and roll around on your palms to make a smooth walnut-sized piece.
-Take each ball and dip half into the water and half into the sugar. Don’t double dip or there will be too much sugar.
-Place the balls sugared sides up on ungreased cookie sheet. They spread, but not by much so they only need to be around 8 to 10 cm apart. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until cookies are delicately browned.