grains
baked
holiday
dessert
crispy
Hungarian
festive
Room Temperature
Hungarian Honey Cookies (Gingerbread)
Difficulty
medium
Time
6h 30m
Price Category
cheap
Calories
High
Mézeskalács, or Hungarian Honey Cookies, are more than just a dessert; they are an essential part of Christmas preparations, filling homes with an instant festive aroma. This traditional Hungarian delicacy is made with honey, spices, and love, perfect as a gift or a decoration for the tree. Resting the dough is crucial for achieving the perfect texture, and decorating offers a truly creative escape. Prepare them together with your family and enjoy the joy of creating something beautiful!
ingredients
Steps
Prepare Dough Base
In a saucepan, gently heat the honey, 100g powdered sugar, and butter over low heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Do not boil! Remove from heat and let it cool to lukewarm.
Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, lemon zest (if using), and salt. Add the lukewarm honey mixture and the 2 whole eggs. Knead thoroughly until you get a smooth, uniform dough. Wrap it in plastic film and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
Roll and Cut
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 3-4 mm (1/8 inch) thickness. Use various gingerbread cutters to cut out shapes. Place the dough pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake Cookies
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Watch them carefully as they can burn quickly! Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Decorate
While the cookies cool, prepare the royal icing: whisk the 1 egg white with 200g powdered sugar until you get a thick, glossy mixture. Transfer to a piping bag or a small plastic bag with a corner snipped off, and decorate the cooled gingerbread cookies as desired.
Extra Tips
► Resting the dough is crucial for soft and flavorful gingerbread. Don't rush this step!
► For decorating, use royal icing made from egg white and powdered sugar. A little lemon juice will make it shinier.
► If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour; if it's too dry, add a drop of milk or water.
Nutrition
| Per 100g | Per Serving 25g / 0.9 oz | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 380 kcal | 95 kcal |
| Protein | 6 g | 1.5 g |
| Fat | 10 g | 2.5 g |
| Carbohydrate | 65 g | 16 g |
| Fiber | 2 g | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 35 g | 9 g |