Here’s A Melomakarona Recipe To Make These Honey Christmas Cookies!
If you want to add a popular Greek Christmas cookie to your cookie plate, you should bake some melomakarona, traditional Greek honey cookies that are full of flavor and syrupy goodness.
Made with ingredients like flour, honey, orange zest, and many fragrant spices like nutmeg and cloves, these Greek cookies are dipped in a homemade honey syrup for a little extra sweetness!
The history of these cookies goes back to Ancient Greece, where a similar cookie (makaria) was served during times of mourning.
Nowadays, with the addition of honey – a popular ingredient in Greek culture representing happiness and prosperity – these Melomakarona (μελομακάρονα in Greek) are enjoyed during times of celebration, especially during Christmas.
With a crunchy yet soft texture, these cookies are irresistible. We bet you can’t eat just one melomakarono!
Ingredients
Here are the melomakarona ingredients you will need to make these popular cookies. It may seem like a lot, but it’s not difficult:
- Flour – Regular all-purpose flour.
- Baking powder – Helps the cookies rise; make sure it is fresh.
- Granulated sugar – To sweeten the cookies.
- Orange juice – Use freshly squeezed orange juice or orange juice not from concentrate and without pulp.
- Water – To make the dough.
- Brandy or cognac – For a non-alcoholic alternative, use more orange juice.
- Orange zest – For extra orange flavor. Preferably from an organic orange.
- Baking soda – Helps the cookies rise; make sure it is fresh.
- Olive oil – Use a good quality olive oil.
- Vegetable oil – Alternatively, you can also use another neutral tasting oil such as sunflower oil or avocado oil.
- Ground cinnamon – Adds extra flavor; adjust to taste.
- Ground nutmeg – Adds extra flavor; adjust to taste.
- Ground cloves – Adds extra flavor; adjust to taste.
- Vanilla extract – Use a good quality vanilla extract.
- Honey – Use Greek honey for an authentic taste, but other honey also works.
- Walnuts – Chopped walnuts to sprinkle on top of the baked cookies.
For the syrup, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Water – The base of the syrup.
- Granulated sugar – To make the syrup.
- Honey – For a truly authentic taste try using Greek honey, but other honey works too.
- Cinnamon stick – To add extra flavor to the syrup.
- Orange – Preferably an organic orange to add extra flavor.
- Whole cloves – Optional; for extra flavor.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- Use good quality ingredients, especially when it comes to the oil, orange juice and honey.
- Don’t overmix the dough as this can make the cookies too dense. Knead until the ingredients are just combined.
- If the dough seems too dry after kneading, you can add a little bit more orange juice.
- Make sure the cookies are all about the same size so they bake evenly.
- Don’t forget to poke some holes in the tops of the cookies, this will allow them to absorb the syrup better.
- The exact baking time can vary depending on your oven and the size of the cookies. Bake the cookies in batches if necessary. Putting more than one baking sheet in the oven at a time may result in uneven cooking (depending on your oven).
- Depending on how syrupy you want the cookies to be, adjust the amount of time you dip them in the syrup.
How to Make Melomakarona – Step by Step Instructions
In this section, we’ll show you just how to make these Melomakarona. We have included recipe process photos below as a visual aid so you can follow along at home and compare as you bake.
Of course, you can also find the detailed printable recipe card at the end of this post!
First, we’ll make the syrup. Combine the water, sugar, cinnamon stick, orange slices and cloves in a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Boil for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves – don’t stir.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the honey. Set aside to cool to room temperature while you prepare the Melomakarona.
To make the cookies, add flour and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
In a separate bowl, mix the orange juice with the baking soda and wait until it bubbles, then add the oil, sugar, water, brandy, honey, orange zest, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves.
Mix well until the sugar is dissolved.
Gradually add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the flour. Stir to combine, then knead with your hands until the dough is smooth and forms a ball. Don’t over knead.
The Melomakarona dough will be a little bit sticky.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Also remove the orange slices, cinnamon stick, and cloves from the pot with the syrup.
Using a tablespoon, scoop out some of the dough and shape it into an oblong cookie with a flat bottom.
Place it on the prepared baking sheet and pierce the top a couple of times with a fork. This will help the cookies soak up more of the syrup later.
Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving some space between the cookies. You may need to bake the cookies in batches.
Bake the melomakarona at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown and crunchy.
The exact baking time can vary depending on your oven and the size of the cookies.
As soon as the melomakarona are done, dip them in the syrup for about 20 to 30 seconds, making sure to soak all sides.
Remove them from the syrup and transfer them to a cooling rack.
Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and enjoy!
Storage Tips
You can store the melomakarona in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 to 3 weeks.
They are easy to make ahead and many people find that they taste better on the second or third day.
FAQ
Melomakarona – plural for Melomakarono – are oval-shaped honey cookies of Greek origin. They are enjoyed around Christmas and honey is a main ingredient – hence the name (méli means honey).
Melomakarona and finikia are very similar and many people use the names interchangeably. A tangible difference in recipes is in the cooking part – finikia are often deep-fried instead of baked.
Related Recipes
If you liked this recipe, here are some other sweet Greek recipes – many of which are also covered in a delicious syrup:
- Greek Baklava
- Loukoumades (Greek Honey Donuts)
- Melopita (Greek Honey Cheesecake)
- Portokalopita (Greek Orange Phyllo Cake)
Melomakarona (Greek Christmas Honey Cookies)
Ingredients
For The Cookies
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup orange juice, without pulp
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon orange zest, more to taste
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, ground
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves, ground
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
For The Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 orange, sliced
- 3 whole cloves, optional
Instructions
- To make the syrup, combine water, sugar, cinnamon stick, orange slices and cloves in a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook without stirring for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the honey. Set aside to cool to room temperature while you prepare the Melomakarona.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup honey, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 orange, 3 whole cloves, 1 cup water
- To make the cookies, add flour and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk to combine.4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- In a separate bowl, mix the orange juice with the baking soda and wait until it bubbles, then add the oil, sugar, water, brandy, honey, orange zest, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved.1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup water, 2 tablespoons brandy or cognac, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 1/3 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon orange zest
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the flour. Stir to combine, then knead with your hands until the dough is smooth and forms a ball. Don't over knead. The melomakarona dough will be a little bit sticky.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Also remove the orange slices, cinnamon stick, and cloves from the pot with the syrup.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop out some of the dough and shape it into an oblong cookie with a flat bottom. Place it on the prepared baking sheet and poke the top a couple of times with a fork. Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving some space between the cookies. You may have to bake the cookies in batches.
- Bake the melomakarona at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown and crunchy. The exact cooking time can vary depending on your oven and the size of the cookies.
- As soon as the melomakarona are done, dip them in the syrup for about 20 to 30 seconds, making sure to soak all sides. Remove them from the syrup and place them on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.1/2 cup walnuts
Notes
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially oil, orange juice, and honey.
- If you don’t want to use brandy or cognac, you can use more orange juice instead.
- Don’t overmix the dough or the cookies will be too dense. Knead until the ingredients are just combined.
- If the dough seems too dry after kneading, you can add a little bit more orange juice.
- Make sure the cookies are all about the same size so they bake evenly.
- Don’t forget to poke a few holes in the tops of the cookies to help them absorb the syrup better.
- The exact baking time can vary depending on your oven and the size of the cookies. Bake the cookies in batches if necessary. Putting more than one baking sheet in the oven at a time may result in uneven cooking (depending on your oven).
- Depending on how syrupy you want the cookies to be, adjust the amount of time you dip them in the syrup.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
