Traditional Greek Honey Cookies (Melomakarona)
Traditional Greek Honey Cookies, known as Melomakarona, are a beloved festive treat that encapsulates the warmth and joy of celebration. With their soft, crumbly texture soaked in aromatic honey syrup, these cookies offer a delightful blend of flavors that make them perfect for sharing during the holiday season. Easy to prepare and made with wholesome ingredients like olive oil and fresh spices, Melomakarona are not only a sweet indulgence but also a healthier alternative to traditional baked goods. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply craving something sweet, these cookies will surely impress your guests.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
- 125 ml fresh orange juice
- 250 grams olive oil (or half olive oil and half sunflower oil)
- 50 grams honey
- 100 grams sugar
- 550 grams all-purpose flour
- 1 + ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground clove
- â…“ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon vanillin powder or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 125 grams (â…” cup + 1 tbsp) fine semolina
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 400 grams sugar (for syrup)
- 325 ml water (for syrup)
- 1 stick of cinnamon (for syrup)
- 4–5 dried cloves (for syrup)
- 1 orange peel (for syrup)
- Additional honey for garnish
- Ground walnuts for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the syrup by boiling sugar, honey, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peel until dissolved. Let cool.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, honey, water, and sugar. Add dry ingredients: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, baking soda, semolina, flour, and baking powder. Mix until soft dough forms.
- Shape dough into oval or round cookies on a lined baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake for about 20 minutes until lightly golden.
- Soak each cookie in cooled syrup for about 30 seconds before cooling completely.
- Garnish with additional honey and ground walnuts before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (30g)
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg