Nut and Spice Cookie Recipes - Honey Filled Cookies

 

Ingredients 

• 2 1/4 cups/330 g all­purpose/plain flour

• 2/3 cup/100 g confectioners'/icing sugar

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 1 cup/250 g butter, softened

• 1 tbsp warm water + more as needed 

SPICE HONEY:

• 2 cups/400 g firmly packed dark brown sugar

• 1 stick cinnamon

• 2 cloves

• zest of 1 orange, in one piece

• 1 cup/250 ml water

• 1/4 tsp white vinegar

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Method:

1. Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt into a large bowl. Use a pastry blender to cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

2. Add the water to form a stiff dough. Press the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C/gas 5.

3. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch (3 mm).

4. Use a 2 1/2-inch (6-cm) cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Gather the dough scraps, re-roll, and continue cutting out cookies until all the dough is used.

5. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until just golden. Transfer to racks and let cool completely.

6. Spice Honey: Place the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, orange zest, and water in a medium saucepan.

7. Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 238°F (114°C), or the soft-ball stage.

8. Stir in the vinegar, discard the cloves, cinnamon stick, and orange zest, and remove from the heat. Let cool completely. Stick the cookies together in pairs with the spice honey.