Traditional Christmas Honey Cookies with Walnuts – Melomakarona. Melomakarona (μελομακάρονα) are traditional Greek Christmas cookies, that are served during Christmas time throughout Greece. The word "melomakarona" is a combination of the two words "meli", which means honey and "makarona". "Makarona" comes from the ancient word "makaria" and means blessed. In some regions "melomakarona" are also called "finikia". Imagine a bigger, oval-shaped gingerbread cookie, that has been soaked in syrup, then coated with honey and plenty of chopped walnuts (only without the ginger). They are bursting with flavors and aromas.

Soft on the inside, so sweet from the honey, and then a nutty walnut crunchiness kicks in. Put water, sugar & honey in a medium pot, over medium heat. Stir and add the orange peel and the cinnamon stick. You can cook Traditional Christmas Honey Cookies with Walnuts – Melomakarona using 15 ingredients and 17 steps. Here is how you cook it.

Ingredients of Traditional Christmas Honey Cookies with Walnuts – Melomakarona

You need 280 ml of extra virgin olive oil.
You need 140 ml of melted butter.
Prepare 140 ml of fresh orange juice.
Prepare 1 of large egg.
Prepare 2 tbsp of granulated sugar.
Prepare 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon.
Prepare 1 tsp of ground clove.
You need 700 g of all purpose flour.
It's 1 tsp of baking soda.
Prepare 200 g of finely chopped walnuts.
You need 420 g of pure honey.
It's 130 g of sugar.
It's 300 ml of water.
You need of peel of an orange.
It's 1 of cinnamon stick.

In a medium-large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients, apart from the sugar, ie flour, semolina, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Rub the orange zest into the sugar in a separate large bowl- it should become slightly soft and fragrant. Using a fork or small spatula, remove the cookie from the syrup and place it on a platter or plate. Press ground walnuts lightly into the tops of the cookies (syrup will help it adhere) and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Traditional Christmas Honey Cookies with Walnuts – Melomakarona instructions

In a large bowl, mix olive oil, melted butter and orange juice with a whisk. Add the egg and mix well..
In a separate bowl, whisk about ⅓ of the flour, cinnamon, clove, baking soda & sugar. Add this flour mixture to the bowl with the liquids and whisk well..
Add ⅓ of the remaining flour and start mixing with your hand. It’s important to feel when to stop adding flour..
Continue adding flour gradually and knead gently. When the dough is soft but not sticky, it means it’s ready. Stop adding flour..
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 min..
Shape the dough into small balls, about 25g each (or the size of a walnut). Give each ball a cylindrical shape and make a pit in the center. Put ½ tsp of walnuts and pinch to seal it..
Arrange them on a paper lined baking tray, seam side down. Prick them with a fork. This will help them absorb the syrup easily..
Bake in a preheated oven, at 200⁰C / 400⁰F for 23 to 25 min. Let them cool completely before putting them in the syrup..
Put water, sugar & honey in a medium pot, over medium heat. Stir and add the orange peel and the cinnamon stick..
Let it come to a boil and remove the foam with a slotted spoon..
After 4 min remove the peel and the cinnamon stick. Lower the heat..
Put some cookies in the syrup, curved side down. Let them simmer for exactly 2 minutes!.
Flip and let them simmer for another 2 min..
Take them out of the syrup with the slotted spoon and transfer on a paper lined baking tray..
Sprinkle with walnuts while they’re still wet from the syrup..
Repeat the process for the rest of the cookies..
Let them cool completely before serving..

Do not refrigerate melomakarona as they will harden. Melomakarona are made with olive oil, honey, orange juice, and walnuts but also flour and sugar. So on the one hand, yes, these sweets have plenty of sugar, on the other hand the olive oil, the honey, the orange zest and the walnuts are all sources of antioxidants. Most importantly the fat from the melomakarono comes exclusively from olive oil. Melomakarona - traditional honey soaked Greek Christmas cookies that are flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and orange and topped with walnuts.