Rosh Hashanah Honey Cookies

Name: Rosh Hashanah Honey Cookies
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 32 min
Total time: 1 h 32 min
Cuisine: Jewish
Ingredients: 4 large eggs; ¾ cup neutral oil, such as vegetable or light olive oil (177 ml); ¾ cup honey (175g); 4 cups all-purpose flour (480g); ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g); 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground Saigon cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; Additional granulated sugar, for rolling (optional)

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Looking for a quick and easy treat to enjoy during Rosh Hashanah? These delicious honey cookies are a simple recipe that kids will love to make and eat. You'll love their soft, slightly chewy texture and lightly sweet flavor.

Looking for other Jewish recipes? You'll definitely want to try this reader-favorite challah recipe and this amazing cinnamon babka.

stack of three honey cookies with one broken in half

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Ingredients
Questions
How to Make
Variations
Pro Tips
Recipe

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Ingredients

In a rush to make a batch of these cookies for your Rosh Hashanah celebrations or for an afternoon snack? Don't worry--you probably already have all the ingredients already. Let's discuss each one!

Eggs: Four large eggs is all you need. If you're vegan, substitute with four flax eggs (mix ¼ cup ground flaxseed with ⅔ cup water and let stand 5 minutes), or with 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce.
Oil: Use any neutral flavored oil, such as vegetable or light olive oil. (Those who would like to use butter can use melted butter instead of oil.)
Honey: This is the key ingredient, of course! It keeps the cookies moist, adds sweetness, and encourages browning in the oven. If you're vegan, you can use an equal volume of agave nectar instead.
Sugar: A little granulated sugar adds a little more sweetness.
Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is ideal for this recipe, but you can definitely use gluten free measure-for-measure flour if desired.
Rising Agents: I use an equal amount of baking soda and baking powder in this recipe.
Spice: Ground Saigon cinnamon adds a subtle flavor and aroma.
Salt: A touch of salt balances the sweetness and adds flavor.
Optional Decoration: I like to roll the cookies in granulated sugar before baking, as it provides an extra touch of sweetness and makes the cookies extra pretty.

Questions

What does honey do to cookies?

Honey traps moisture in the cookies as they bake, increasing their moisture and chewiness. It's slightly sweeter than regular white sugar, which can allow you to decrease the amount a little. It will also cause the dough to brown faster in the oven.

Can I use honey instead of sugar in cookies?

Yes, you can. These use both granulated sugar and honey in the dough, but you can substitute this sweetener in many other cookie recipes. You can use an equal volume of honey to sugar for amounts up to 1 cup, but for amounts greater than that, use ⅔-3/4 cup honey for each cup of sugar.

For other recipes, you'll want to reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by ¼ cup for each cup of honey, and lower the oven temperature 25 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent overbaking. You can also add an extra ½ teaspoon of baking soda to encourage the baked goods to rise better.

How do you store honey cookies?

Keep them soft by storing them in a plastic bag or airtight plastic container. Avoid storing with other baked goods in the same container, or they may pick up those flavors. They should stay fresh at room temperature for 3-5 days.

Can I freeze honey cookies?

Yes, you can definitely freeze these cookies! Seal them inside of a zip-top plastic freezer bag or in an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost at room temperature or in the microwave.

Why do we eat sweet foods on Rosh Hashanah?

Eating sweets (including apples dipped in honey) during Rosh Hashanah reflects the hopes one has for a sweet new year ahead.

How to Make

Gather the ingredients.

glass bowls of ingredients for honey cookies

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until blended.

Beat the eggs, oil, honey, and sugar together until smooth.

wet ingredients mixed together in a mixing bowl

Gradually add the flour mixture until a smooth dough forms. Chill the dough for 30 minutes to firm it up.

Roll 1 tablespoon balls of cookie dough in granulated sugar if desired, then space the balls two inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets.

balls of honey cookie dough on a cookie sheet

Bake at 350°F for 7-9 minutes per tray, or until they are lightly browned around the edges. Let them cool briefly on a wire rack, then enjoy.

Everyone will love these soft treats during Rosh Hashanah or anytime during the year. Shana Tova!

Variations

Gluten Free: Use your favorite measure-for-measure gluten free flour instead of the all-purpose. (I recommend either Bob's Red Mill or King Arthur.)
Vegan: Swap the honey for an equal volume of agave nectar. Replace the eggs with four flax eggs or ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce per egg (a total of 1 cup in this recipe).
Extra Chewy: Use all brown sugar instead of white for a more chewy texture and darker colored cookies.
Want to use butter? You can use 1 cup of melted butter (230g) instead of the oil for extra flavor.

Pro Tips

Has your honey thickened too much or crystallized? Set the container in warm water to melt the crystals.
Measure the oil in a measuring cup first, then measure the honey. This way, it glides out of the cup without sticking.
Be careful not to overmix the batter once the flour is added, or the dough may get tough.
Using an oven thermometer will help make sure your oven isn't baking too hot or cold.
Watch the cookies as they bake. Take them out once they are lightly golden, or they will be overbaked.

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