Medovníky: Slovak Spiced Honey Cookies

4.28 from 11 votes

Flavoured with honey, cinnamon and cloves these delicious cookies are often served at Christmas-time in Slovakia decorated with white icing swirls.

Prep Time1 30

Cook Time15

Chilling6

Total Time1 45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Slovakian

Servings: cookies

Calories: 150kcal

Sift together 650 grams plain flour, 300 grams icing sugar, 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 1 tsp ground cloves, 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg, 0.25 tsp ground allspice, 0.25 tsp star anise and 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper.
Measure out 160 grams runny honey and 125 grams butter in a small saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted.
Add to the dry ingredients along with 3 medium free-range eggs and the zest of 1 lemonMix well to form a soft dough.
Leave to chill in the refrigerator for an hour to firm up. Knead gently on a floured surface and divide into two discs. Wrap each disc in cling film and leave overnight in the refrigerator to chill.
Preheat your oven to 200 C/ 400 F and line a baking tray with paper.
Roll out each disc on a floured surface to a thickness of half a centimetre.
Cut out with your desired cookie cutter and place well apart on the baking sheet.
Decorate with a few blanched almonds, if desired, and glaze 2 free-range egg whites.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven (mine takes 12). Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
To prepare the icing, mix 200 grams icing sugar, 1 free-range egg white and 1 tbsp lemon juice together and pipe swirls and decorations over the top of the cookies.
Will keep for several days in an airtight container.