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This melomakarona recipe is for one of the most beloved Greek Christmas cookies. Soft and oval-shaped, these cookies with orange and cinnamon flavors are drenched in a honey syrup and covered with walnuts. Addictive, these melt-in-your-mouth cookies are irresistible.
What are Melomakorona Greek Christmas Cookies?
Melomakarona cookies are one of the most iconic Greek Christmas sweets. They are ever present in Greek homes and can make a fantastic addition to your Christmas table.
When we first tasted these melomakarona Greek honey cookies, we could not get over how sweet and crumbly they were. We absolutely loved them.
These Greek Christmas cookies are soaked in honey syrup, topped with walnuts and are an authentic Greek delicacy.
Pronounced mel-low-ma-KA-row-na, these Greek Christmas honey cookies are quick to bake, fun to make and highly addictive.
This melomakarona recipe has no dairy or eggs. It is vegan, though it does include honey. This traditional recipe makes 40 cookies, plenty for everyone.
Go ahead and make these traditional Christmas cookies. Bring a taste of Greek Christmas to your holiday table this season.
Melomakarona History
Melomakarona cookies have a long history with roots in ancient Greece. Although modern melomakarona cookies are a festive treat, their history is rooted in conflict and mourning.
The word melomakarona is a combination of the meli, meaning honey and makaria, a piece of bread offered at funerals.
The makaria bread used by the ancient Greeks was similar to the shape of the modern melomakarona.
In later periods, during the Byzantine Empire, the makaria were soaked in honey, and the name can literally be translated as honey biscuits.
Over the years, melomakarona cookies became a popular cookie eaten during the Christmas season.
RELATED: Why Thyme Honey From Crete is one of the Best in The World
Discovering Greek Cookies – Melomakarona or μελομακάρονα
Since arriving in Greece, we see melomakarona cookies in bakeries all over Crete and particularly where we are staying in Chania.
Every time we walk into a bakery we see an enormous pile of these delectable Christmas honey cookies on display. Not surprisingly, the quantities increased as we moved into the December month.
Greeks are known for their incredible generosity and hospitality. After buying bread or pastries, while paying for our purchases, the bakery staff always give us some melomakarona cookies.
Getting the free honey cookies is something we experience almost every single time we visit a bakery.
After eating many melomakarona Greek Christmas cookies, we were tempted to make them ourselves. When we asked our Airbnb host about the ingredients, she spontaneously gave us her family’s traditional melomakarona recipe.
This was perfect as we wanted a tried and true traditional melomakarona Greek Christmas cookie recipe.
Before Greece, the first time we had these Greek Christmas honey cookies was in Chicago.
Artopolis Bakery, in the heart of Greektown, Chicago is famous for having some of the best Greek pastries in the city.
WATCH AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST VIDEO – Greektown Chicago Tour with Greek Foods & Wine Tasting
How to Make Traditional Melomakarona Cookies at Home
The best melomakarona honey cookies are crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. They are incredibly delicious and quite addictive.
Every Greek household has their own family recipe. While the ingredients can be altered, the one thing that remains constant is the use of high quality Greek products.
For this recipe, use Greek ingredients and especially Greek extra virgin olive oil for authentic tastes of these honey cookies.
- All-purpose flour
- Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Greek Brandy like Metaxa
- Honey – Greek Cretan honey recommended
- Cinnamon powder
- Ground cloves
- Crushed walnuts
- Freshly squeezed orange juice
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Sugar
- Water
Use Greek or Cretan Olive Oil
Olive oil has been a part of Greek history for millenia and it is believed to have first been cultivated in Crete.
Considered liquid gold, olive oil is one of the foundations of the famous Cretan diet. Cretan olive oil is used extensively in cooking, including in this melomakarona recipe.
To make these Greek Christmas honey cookies, our local friends recommended the use of Cretan olive oil.
Terra Creta extra virgin olive oil from Crete is a winner of many awards and one of the best in the country. You can find it on Amazon and use it in your melomakarona recipe.
READ MORE: Cooking With Olive Oil – Tips from Top Producer in Crete
Choose Greek or Cretan Honey
The Greeks have used honey as a sweetener since antiquity and it is at the center of Greek gastronomy.
Like olive oil, Cretan honey is a flagship product from the island. Cretan honey is used in baking instead of sugar in a variety of mouth-watering syrupy sweets.
This Greek Christmas cookies recipe calls for one cup of honey. If you can, use Cretan honey for the best flavors.
READ MORE: Why Thyme Honey From Crete is One of The Best In The World
Melomakarona Recipe Tips
Can I Substitute Brandy with Something Else?
Traditionally, melomakarona honey cookies are made with a few tablespoons of cognac or brandy.
When we asked our Airbnb host what she recommended, she gave us Raki to use instead. Raki is a spirit similar to the Italian grappa. In Crete, Raki is also called Tsikoudia.
For the Cretans, Raki represents hospitality and it is a symbol of Cretan culture. Outside of Crete and Greece, it is difficult to find Raki.
One popular substitute is Metaxa, the famous Greek brandy. You can find Metaxa available worldwide.
If you want to make non-alcoholic cookies you can use more orange juice instead of brandy.
How Long Can I Keep Greek Melomakarona Cookie?
These Greek Christmas honey cookies will last up to three weeks if properly stored. In fact, the flavors of the cookies get better over time.
With no dairy or eggs used, these vegan cookies can last for several weeks.
Store the melomakarona cookies in an air-tight container at room temperature. And to prevent the layers of cookies from sticking together, it helps to place sheets of wax paper in between the cookies.
Melomakarona Greek Honey Cookies – Step by Step Instructions
One of the easiest ways to make these delightful Greek cookies is to separate the ingredients by use.
Place all the syrup ingredients together. And, create separate piles for the dry and wet ingredients. This will make it easier, once you get started.
Start by Making the Syrup
In a medium-sized saucepan combine 1 cup of water with 1 cup honey and 1 cup of sugar.
Over medium heat, bring to a boil until the sugar dissolves.
Let the honey syrup mixture cool so that it is better absorbed by the fresh-out-of-the-oven melomakarona cookies.
The Cookie Dough
When mixing the wet and dry ingredients, do not overwork the dough and simply knead using your hands.
Keep kneading the dough until all the ingredients are well incorporated. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little extra flour.
Make sure the dough is smooth and not overworked.
Shape The Melomakarona Greek Honey Cookies
Layer a large baking tray with parchment paper and start shaping the melomakarona honey cookies.
Pinch a small scoop of cookie dough slightly larger than the size of your thumb. Using the palms of your hands, mold the dough into oval or oblong shapes, making them all similar.
Press on the cookies gently to flatten the dough slightly. Keep making the cookies until you use up all the dough.
On the baking sheet, line up the cookies about ½ inch apart.
Then, using a fork, make a criss-cross pattern on each cookie. This is mostly decorative but it also helps the walnuts stick.
Dipping The Cookies Into The Honey Syrup
Once the melomakarona are ready, remove them from the oven and dip them into the cold syrup. Dip 2 or 3 cookies at a time, turning them over until they absorb the cold syrup, about 10 seconds.
Remove the cookies and place them on a second platter lined with a baking sheet. One tip is to sprinkle crushed walnuts on the bottom of the baking sheet first.
And then, top the cookies with another layer of crushed walnuts. You can also add a dusting of cinnamon.
Oven Baked Melomakarona Cookies and Presentation
Once all the cookies are topped with crushed walnuts, let them rest and cool down for about 30 minutes.
In Greece, these melomakarona Christmas cookies are set out on big platters stacked up like a tower.
This pyramid style is beautiful and the traditional way of displaying them.
Melomakarona Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 ¾ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
For the Syrup
- 1 cup honey Greek Cretan honey
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Toppings
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
For the Syrup
- Start by making the syrup. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the water, honey, and sugar.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high for 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C.
For the Cookies
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, ground cloves, and cinnamon together.
- In a separate bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, orange juice, brandy, zest of orange, lemon juice, and sugar. Mix well.
- Slowly, add the dry flour mixture to the wet olive oil mixture. Using your hands, slowly knead the dough until all the flour has been added. Do not overwork the dough, but make sure the final mixture is soft and smooth.
- Using your hands, pinch off a small amount of dough and shape the melomakarona into a small oval shape, slightly larger than your thumb.
- Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, keeping about ½ inch between them.
- Use a fork to create a criss-cross pattern on all the cookies.
- Bake in your heated oven for about 25 minutes, until they are crunchy and golden in color.
- As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, soak them in the cold syrup for about 10 seconds, flipping them around.
- Remove the cookies from the syrup and arrange them on a tray that is lined with extra crushed walnuts. Drizzle any extra syrup on the cookies.
- Sprinkle the cookies with crushed walnuts and you can also add a little dusting of ground cinnamon.
Notes
- Work the dough with your hands instead of using a mixer. The dough will be a bit greasy and that is expected with the olive oil.
- To make melomakarona cookies of the same size, you can use a small ice cream scoop to portion out the dough for each cookie. Use your hands to make an oval shape, slightly larger than your thumb.
- The cookies should be hot and the syrup cold when you soak them. Keep them only for about 10 seconds, flipping them over.
- Store melomakarona in an air-tight container at room temperature. And the cookies can last for up to three weeks.
Nutrition
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
I love introducing my kids to new foods from different cultures. This is next on my list!
Wonderful to hear Jess, and just in time for the holidays. Cheers.
Love these cookies! Love the combination of the olive oil and orange here. So good for Christmas, or anytime of the year!
You are right, Angela, these melomakarona cookies are good any time. Cheers.
The clove and cinnamon add so much flavor to these cookies and the smell is wonderful!
Indeed, Jamie, the combination of flavors makes these cookies irresistable. Hope you make them soon. Cheers.
These bring back such great memories for me. They are such a great Christmas Cookie. Definitely a must every year.
So great to hear, Andrea. Hold onto this recipe as we approach the holiday season. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers.
looks amazing! I love this kind of recipe! Definitely will make it soon!
Great to hear, Tavo. Please do let us know how they turn out. Cheers.
These cookies look heavenly and so yummy! I’m so excited to try these! Putting the ingredients on the list! Can’t wait!
Awesome to hear, Beth. We are so excited for you to bring a taste of Greece to your kitchen. Do let us know how they turn out. Cheers.
Oh I love the ingredients in these cookies sounds delicious going to print this one right now!
This is the first time I’ve heard of melomakarona cookies but I’m already sure I’d love them! I especially like fruits in cookies (yes, including raisins) and I can’t wait to whip a batch of these!
Great to hear Maria. Please do let us know how they turn out. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers.
Anything soaked in honey is top notch in my book!
Could not agree more, Jessica. Yum! Let us know how yours turn out. Cheers.
I am new to cooking and yeah, I have limited knowledge of cooking and baking yet. I’d love to do so many recipes and I guess I need to line this up. Excited to be able to do a greek recipe for the first time.
Great to hear Anosa. Can’t wait for you to try this simple recipe. Thanks.
This traditional Greek Honey cookies looks yum. I would love to check it out
Easy to make and incredibly tasty. Definitively recommend trying them. Cheers.
This sounds gorgeous! I’ve never heard of greek honey cookies but I’d love to try them.
Love trying new recipes! And these Greek cookies look so inviting!
Awesome to hear. Can’t wait for you to try them. Cheers.
These cookies look amazing. I may just need to try them. I’ve never had these kind before.
I’ve never had those Greek cookies before. They look good. I’d love to give them a try.
These cookies look absolutely delish! I like how you’ve talked a lot about Greek culture. Kudos!
Great. Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed the article.
I love cookies! Melomakarona looks good, never tried it before. I’d love to try it, saving this recipe.
Awesome. Can’t wait to hear what you think about them. Cheers.
These cookies look so delicious! I love Greek food but I don’t think I’ve ever had these.
They are simple to make and quite delicious. Give it a try, Heather 🙂 Cheers.
I LOVE everything Greek! I’ve never had these cookies before but I look forward to making them! I bet they are amazing too!
These cookies are truly amazing…and you can enjoy them for weeks. Can’t wait for you to make them. Please do let us know. Cheers, Bri.
This is my first time learning about these cookies. I can’t wait to try them. .
These look tasty. I don’t think I’ve ever had cookies like them before so I am excited to try them out.
The name is a real mouthful but the cookies look so good. I liked learning about Greek culture and this recipe origins.
They are tasty cookies and worth the long name…Thanks, Melissa.
Oh man, these look delicious but I just cannot make cookies because I would not be able to trust myself!
It’s always amazing to learn about global cuisine! These cookies look delicious plus I loved the name!
True, awesome name ..lol Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve never had these cookies before and now I’m excited to give them a try!
Awesome. Do let us know what you think when you try them. Cheers.
I love trying new recipes from different cultures and this one is next on my list!
Great to hear Jess. Excited for you to make it soon. Cheers.