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Pryaniki - Russian Honey Spice Cookies Recipe

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4.3 from 78 reviews

Pryaniki are traditional Russian honey spice cookies known for their soft, cake-like texture and rich flavors from a blend of aromatic spices and honey. This recipe involves simmering a mixture of coffee, butter, sugar, and honey before combining with spices and flour, resulting in tender, fragrant cookies glazed with a sweet sugar and milk coating for a delightful finish.

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup instant coffee
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups honey
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar (to dissolve baking soda)
  • 1/2 cup milk (for glaze)

Dry Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon anise (ground or liquid extract)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Dissolve Coffee: In a medium saucepan, dissolve the instant coffee in the hot water to form a smooth mixture.
  2. Combine Butter, Sugar, and Honey: Add butter, granulated sugar, and honey to the coffee mixture. Heat over medium flame, stirring continuously until the butter is melted and the sugar fully dissolves for a uniform, homogenous liquid. Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Add Spices: Stir in vanilla extract, allspice, grated nutmeg, and anise extract. Additional spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, or mint extract can be added for enhanced flavor complexity.
  4. Incorporate Eggs and Leavening: Whisk in the eggs, then add the baking soda dissolved in vinegar and baking powder. Expect some fizzing as the chemical reaction occurs, which helps leavening.
  5. Add Flour: Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour using a large wooden spoon until fully incorporated into a dough.
  6. Rest Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rest at room temperature for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to develop flavor and texture.
  7. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Heat oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  8. Shape Cookies: Scoop dough using a 1 tablespoon measure and roll into even balls. Place the shaped dough on the prepared sheet spacing them apart to allow expansion during baking.
  9. Bake Cookies: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Monitor closely to avoid overbaking which causes hardness. The cookies should be soft and slightly springy when done.
  10. Prepare Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar with milk until smooth. Optionally add vanilla or other flavor extracts to personalize the glaze.
  11. Glaze Cookies: Once cookies are cooled, dip each in the glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place glazed cookies on parchment or racks to dry. Flip and glaze the opposite side before the first side dries for even coating. Work quickly to prevent the glaze from hardening prematurely, adding a small amount of milk if needed to thin.
  12. Store: Store thoroughly glazed cookies at room temperature in a sealed container to maintain freshness and softness.

Notes

  • Resting the dough allows flavors to meld and improves texture, do not skip.
  • The glaze can be customized with different extracts for varied flavor profiles.
  • Do not overbake to maintain a tender texture; the cookies should be soft rather than crunchy.
  • If glaze thickens before use, add a splash of milk to restore the desired consistency.
  • Additional spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves can enhance the traditional flavor.

Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/pryaniki-russian-honey-spice-cookies-recipe/