This recipe for honey cookies is quick, easy, and delicious! They have a great cinnamon flavor and are perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage.
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Did you know baking with honey is a great way to add a unique flavor to desserts and baked goods?
Honey has been used in baking for centuries and for a good reason. Not only does it contribute to a distinct sweetness and depth of flavor, but it also adds moisture to baked goods, making them tender and delicious.
Whether making these whole wheat cookies, honey cake, or yeast-free whole wheat honey bread, honey will give recipes a unique flavor, texture, and golden hue. Plus, you will love the aroma as they bake in the oven.
Discover the simplicity of this cookie recipe using everyday pantry staples. Fresh for days and freezer-friendly, they’re ideal for holiday platters and homemade gifts. With the irresistible blend of cinnamon and honey, this quick recipe requires no stand mixer.
Let me show you how to make these beautiful cookies in just thirty minutes!
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: A versatile base for the cookie dough.
- Baking powder: Adds a leavening effect for a light texture.
- Ground cinnamon: Infuses a warm and aromatic flavor to the cookies.
- Salt: Enhances the overall taste by balancing sweetness.
- Eggs (room temperature): Contribute to the structure and moisture of the cookies.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness to the dough.
- Vegetable oil: Adds moisture and helps create a soft texture.
- Honey: Imparts a delightful sweetness and unique flavor to the cookies.
Step-by-step instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Position the oven rack in the middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
We are going to need two mixing bowls.
In the first mixing bowl, sift together 4 cups of all-purpose flour (568 grams), 2 teaspoons of baking powder, a pinch of salt, and 1½-2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Set it aside for now.
In another large bowl, whisk 3 room temperature eggs. Add ¾ cup of granulated sugar and continue to whisk until well combined and slightly thickened. Whisk in ¾ cup of vegetable oil and 3 tablespoons of honey.
Finally, add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
Scoop dough with a medium-sized cookie scooper and roll each into a smooth ball or in an elongated shape. Place on baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Continue to roll until all of the dough is used. You should be able to make about 3½ dozen cookies. Finally, brush the cookies with an egg wash.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until firm to the touch.
Transfer to wire racks to cool completely and resist the temptation to eat more than one 🙂
Tips
- Warm up the honey for a few minutes before using it. The warmth will help to thin out the honey and make it more pourable. Also, grease the measuring cup with oil before adding the honey. This will help it slide right out when it’s time to add the honey to the recipe.
- The quality of the honey you use will directly impact the flavor and texture of your cookies.
- Experiment with different spice combinations to find your favorite. Nutmeg, allspice, or ginger are all great spices that can add warmth and flavor to this recipe with honey.
- After brushing the tops with the egg wash, create a variation and transform them into honey sesame cookies by sprinkling them with sesame seeds.
FAQ
Store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature.
You can freeze these cookies for up to 3 months for longer storage, either in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag. Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature before serving.
You can add a few tablespoons of chopped nuts or dried fruits like raisins to this recipe. Fold them with the dry ingredients before mixing them into the cookie dough.
Baking with honey recipes
Honey is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various desserts.
Some popular Italian recipes with honey include mostaccioli, caragnoli and these biscotti cookies.
Struffoli
Struffoli are small, fried dough balls coated in a sweet honey glaze and garnished with colorful sprinkles, making them a must for an Italian Christmas.
Another popular honey dessert is this recipe for honey cake. This simple cake makes a great dessert for special occasions.
Recipe origins
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. I was sitting in my backyard when I fell down the Pinterest rabbit hole… again. As soon as I saw these cookies, I knew I had to make them.
The simplicity of these honey cinnamon cookies reminds me so much of some recipes I grew up with, like Italian sesame cookies or Italian honey biscotti. That was the initial attraction.
The original recipe can be found here. Although I love cinnamon, I decreased the amount… just a little bit. No other changes were required. These are genuinely fantastic cookies!
There is no denying the culinary influence of neighboring countries in Europe and Northern Africa. Did you know that the Moors once occupied Sicily during the Middle Ages? As a result, Arabian sweets and exotic spices are highly evident on this Mediterranean island.
So, on this particular Sunday afternoon, I find myself writing about these cookies thirty minutes after I made them.
I returned to my backyard with apple tea and a couple of simple honey cinnamon cookies.
Enjoy!
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community, where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
Ciao for now,
Maria
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★★★★★ If you have made this honey cookie, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Easy Honey Cookies Recipe with Cinnamon
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Ingredients
- 4 cups all purpose flour 568 grams
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ – 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 3 eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
egg wash
- 1 egg yolk lightly beaten
- ½ teaspoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/175°C. Position rack to middle.
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, sift or whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Slowly add sugar. Continue to whisk until well combined and slightly thickened.
- Add the oil and the honey. Combine well.
- Finally, add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. If the dough feels tacky, add 1 tablespoon of flour.
- Scoop dough with a medium-sized cookie scoop and roll it into a smooth ball or in an elongated shape.
- Place on baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Continue to roll until all of the dough is used.
- Brush cookies with egg wash.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until firm to the touch.
- Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for a few days. Can also be frozen.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on August 12, 2017, and republished on February 15, 2023, with updated content, photos, and video. Thanks for sharing!
Tina
I’ve been on a hunt for cookie recipes that use less sugar than say a chocolate chip cookie. This recipe fits the bill and it didn’t disappoint. All of the different cookies I bake go directly into the freezer. That way you can grab a cookie at any time and either eat it frozen (which I like) or thaw in microwave for a few seconds. This recipe has great cinnamon flavor. The dough was easy to handle and looks exactly as pictured. Thanks Maria.
Maria
I am so happy to read this! Thanks, Tina, I appreciate your comment!
Donna
I am definitely going to make this. So easy to do. Plus I love honey. Amazing recipes.
Maria
Thanks so much Donna! Enjoy!
Debie
How do you thaw them out so they taste fresh?
Maria
I simply take them out of the freezer to thaw out at room temperature… takes about 30 minutes. Great question! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Mina
Hi Maria, the cookies look amazing. Just wondering if the amount of flour should be 4 or 4-1/4 cups.
Maria
Hi Mina! I have included a range because I find that depending on the humidity, sometimes a few more tablespoons are required to easily roll the dough. I would say start with 4 cups and if you find the dough is to soft to work with… add a tablespoon (or a few) more. Hope you enjoy the recipe. Great comment! Have a great day ♥♥♥
Stefanie
We love them! Great cookies, thank you!
Maria
Fantastic Stefanie, glad you like them! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment 🙂
Barbarito-Levitt Paula
I absolutely love this recipe and if you eliminate the milk in the glaze, they are completely dairy free / parve which makes them perfect for you readers who observe kosher dietary laws. So lovely of you to link to my blog and post Palermo Street Food, grazie Maria….
Maria
You are absolutely right Paula… the egg wash glaze works well with or without the drop of milk. Thank-you. Your pictures on the post on Palermo Street Food are just so vibrant… and as you say, the cuisine of Sicily is like no other. Thanks again for dropping in… have a great week Paula ♥
Jovina
My kind of cookie. Going to make these soon.
Maria
Hope you like them Jovina! Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week-end 🙂
Woody
Would be nice to see a picture of the inside of the cookie.
Maria
Thanks for your interest Woody. I finally had a chance to update the post with a picture. Enjoy!